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| MP Devine faces expenses charges | MP Devine faces expenses charges |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Livingston MP Jim Devine has been charged over allegations he falsely claimed parliamentary expenses. | Livingston MP Jim Devine has been charged over allegations he falsely claimed parliamentary expenses. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service announced that the Labour politician had been accused of dishonestly claiming for cleaning services and stationary. | |
| Fellow Labour MPs, Elliott Morley and David Chaytor, have also been charged, along with Tory peer Lord Hanningfield. | |
| Mr Devine said he was "absolutely devastated" by the news and denied doing anything wrong. | Mr Devine said he was "absolutely devastated" by the news and denied doing anything wrong. |
| The legal move follows the publication of MPs' expenses last May. | |
| DEVINE CHARGES The Act: Charged under Section 17 of the Theft Act 1968Charge One: Between July 2008 and April 2009 Jim Devine dishonestly claimed for cleaning services using false invoicesCharge Two: In March 2009 Jim Devine dishonestly claimed for stationary using false invoices | |
| Mr Devine, 56, was elected MP for Livingston in West Lothian in September 2005, following the death of leading politician and former minister Robin Cook. | |
| He had previously been Mr Cook's election agent, and had worked as head of health for the Scottish branch of the public sector union Unison. | |
| A month after the spotlight came on MPs expense claims, Mr Devine was deselected by the Labour Party from standing at the next general election. | |
| Speaking from his home in Blackburn, West Lothian, the MP said: "I am absolutely astonished and devastated at the decision that has been taken today. | |
| "Two new charges have been brought, both of which are easily explained and both of which I'll be explaining in court." |