Tweet
31 May 2011
Last updated at 07:33 ET
Former Conservative peer Lord Taylor of Warwick has been jailed for 12 months for falsely claiming £11,277 in parliamentary expenses.
He claimed travel costs between his Oxford home and Westminster, as well as subsistence for staying in London.
The 58-year-old said he had made the false claims "in lieu of a salary", and had been acting on colleagues' advice.
Jailing him, judge Mr Justice Saunders said the expenses scandal had "left an indelible stain on Parliament".
Taylor, who was Britain's first black Conservative peer and a former barrister and radio and TV presenter, listed his main residence as a home in Oxford, which was owned by his nephew, while he actually lived in a flat in London.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges - saying had been told by senior peers it was normal practice to make false expenses claims - but was convicted in January.
His legal team argued that he should not face prison because, as a peer, his crimes were less serious than those of MPs found guilty over their expenses.
They said a custodial term would "destroy him", adding that: "Every fibre of Taylor is motivated by public service."
'Breach of trust' But Mr Justice Saunders said Taylor had lied to journalists investigating his expenses and lied while giving evidence to the jury during his trial.
"The expenses scheme in the House of Lords was based on trust," he said.
"Peers certified that their claims were accurate. They were not required to provide proof. It was considered that people who achieved a peerage could be relied on to be honest.
"Making false claims involved a breach of a high degree of trust."
Taylor is the latest in a series of politicians to be jailed for expenses fraud.
Former Labour MP Jim Devine was given a 16-month term after also pleading not guilty. His fellow former Labour members Eric Illsley, David Chaytor and Elliot Morley all pleaded guilty and were jailed for 12, 18 and 16 months respectively.
Lord Hanningfield, another former Conservative peer, was convicted last week and is awaiting sentence.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials
He claimed travel costs between his Oxford home and Westminster, as well as subsistence for staying in London.
The 58-year-old said he had made the false claims "in lieu of a salary", and had been acting on colleagues' advice.
Jailing him, judge Mr Justice Saunders said the expenses scandal had "left an indelible stain on Parliament".
Taylor, who was Britain's first black Conservative peer and a former barrister and radio and TV presenter, listed his main residence as a home in Oxford, which was owned by his nephew, while he actually lived in a flat in London.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges - saying had been told by senior peers it was normal practice to make false expenses claims - but was convicted in January.
His legal team argued that he should not face prison because, as a peer, his crimes were less serious than those of MPs found guilty over their expenses.
They said a custodial term would "destroy him", adding that: "Every fibre of Taylor is motivated by public service."
'Breach of trust' But Mr Justice Saunders said Taylor had lied to journalists investigating his expenses and lied while giving evidence to the jury during his trial.
"The expenses scheme in the House of Lords was based on trust," he said.
"Peers certified that their claims were accurate. They were not required to provide proof. It was considered that people who achieved a peerage could be relied on to be honest.
"Making false claims involved a breach of a high degree of trust."
Taylor is the latest in a series of politicians to be jailed for expenses fraud.
Former Labour MP Jim Devine was given a 16-month term after also pleading not guilty. His fellow former Labour members Eric Illsley, David Chaytor and Elliot Morley all pleaded guilty and were jailed for 12, 18 and 16 months respectively.
Lord Hanningfield, another former Conservative peer, was convicted last week and is awaiting sentence.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials