This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26729265
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
MP Peter Bone will not face benefit fraud charges | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Conservative MP Peter Bone and his wife will not face any criminal charges in connection with allegations of benefit fraud relating to his mother-in-law. | |
The police investigated claims that assets belonging to her were concealed so Northamptonshire County Council would fund time in a care home. | |
But the Crown Prosecution Service said "no element of dishonesty" could be proved and it would take no action. | |
The MP, who always denied the claims, said his family had been "vindicated". | |
Details of the police investigation were revealed by the Times newspaper last month. | |
In response, Mr Bone - MP for Wellingborough - confirmed that police had raided his constituency office last year, confiscating parliamentary papers, including constituents' letters. | |
He said he and his wife had been involved in a long-running dispute with Northamptonshire Council about what he said was "their failure to properly fund her elderly mother's care needs". | |
Care dispute | |
Anyone with assets totalling more than £23,250 must pay their own care-home fees. | |
The MP accused the council of failing to comply with regulations on charging for residential care and failing to apply their own appeals system. | |
Mr Bone said that in January last year the council issued a writ against his wife claiming that she owed money and that this is subject to a civil case, which is continuing. | |
But, in a statement on Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was "insufficient evidence" to justify bringing criminal charges in relation to the case. | |
"We were asked to consider whether there was a case for fraud by abuse of position and theft by disposal of assets belonging to the woman's mother," it said. | |
"We were also asked to consider whether there was a case of fraud by false representation to Northamptonshire Council in relation to the mother's assets. | |
"The evidence showed: firstly that the woman's mother considered the suspects' conduct to be acceptable; secondly that the suspects acted openly in declaring the sale of the mother's house to the council; thirdly that no element of dishonesty could be proved." | |
'Nightmare' | |
In response, Mr Bone thanked all those who had supported him and his wife during what he said had been a "surreal nightmare". | |
"What has been so frustrating about this whole episode is that it has been going on for over a year, without an opportunity for us to clear our names," he said. | |
"Jennie and I have just heard that we are not going to be charged with any criminal offence. This is obviously very good news and a vindication of our stance all along. | |
"As we have done nothing wrong and the Crown Prosecution Service only considered the evidence, not newspaper innuendo, we have been proven innocent." | |
The MP, elected in 2005, is a high-profile Eurosceptic who is well known for his attacks on his party's coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats. | |
He is also known for raising laughs in the House of Commons by regularly claiming to ask questions on behalf of his wife. | |
Before becoming an MP, he served as a councillor and worked as a chartered accountant. |
Previous version
1
Next version