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Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield faces police probe

8:24am Friday 3rd July 2009 in


THE Daily Telegraph says Scotland Yard is investigating the leader of Essex County Council who claimed tens of thousands of pounds in overnight allowances despite living just 46 miles from Westminster.

Records show Lord Hanningfield claimed £17,120 in the year ending March 2008 for the cost of staying overnight in London in order to attend the Lords.

The Telegraph said that his claims totalled £100,000 over seven years.

The Telegraph reported that detectives from the Metropolitan Police specialist crimes unit want to establish whether Lord Hanningfield actually stayed in London on the evenings for which he claimed, rather than returning to his home near Chelmsford.

Rules state that peers whose main home is outside the capital can claim an allowance of £174 a night if their stay is "for the purpose of attending sittings of the House". Receipts are not required.

Lord Hanningfield told the Telegraph he could justify all his expenses and blamed questions over his claims on a "vindictive campaign against me".

He said: "I work extremely hard on the front bench and am satisfied that I can account for my expenses."

Comments(30)

hootch732 says...
8:50am Fri 3 Jul 09

Its about time they investigated him, all he wants to do is close local schools and reep the financial benefits from the government.

Has he heard of 'Every child matter'?

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Rob.P says...
8:53am Fri 3 Jul 09

I travel to London from Chelmsford everyday and it takes me an hour door to door.
This is a disgrace, another Councillor taking the p155 with their expenses.
"vindictive campaign against me". your are wrong there, you have been found out... So because he "claims" he works hard on the front bench he sees fit to use taxpayers money to stay overnight when he can get the train home.

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crosby says...
9:06am Fri 3 Jul 09

He doesn't even need to do that - he's got a chaffeur-driven limo provided by all of us. What's that, 50 minutes from central London to Chelmsford at that time of night?

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Ian Gilbert says...
9:20am Fri 3 Jul 09

Sadly the people of Essex have just re-elected him with an absolutely unassailable majority.

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Radar Ears says...
9:35am Fri 3 Jul 09

Ian Gilbert wrote:
Sadly the people of Essex have just re-elected him with an absolutely unassailable majority.
Pity they can't do a "vote of no confidence" now this has come to light.

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TheBigCoverUp says...
9:41am Fri 3 Jul 09

ARE YOU A FREEMASON LORD HANNINGFILED?

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TheBigCoverUp says...
9:44am Fri 3 Jul 09

WILL HIS FACE APPEAR ON CRIMEWATCH AND ARE THERE ANY LINKS TO BASILDON COUNCIL ?

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hughie-s says...
10:09am Fri 3 Jul 09

He only attended on 107 days and in addition claimed £8,534 in day subsistence.

Links to last seven years expenses...
http://www.parliamen
t.uk/about_lords/hol
allowances/hol_expen
ses04.cfm



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Jane D says...
10:26am Fri 3 Jul 09

Ian Gilbert of Southend has it spot-on. You reap what you sow.

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ICareCol says...
10:43am Fri 3 Jul 09

Lord Hanningfield, you've been found out!
Now do the honourable thing and RESIGN.

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Myrtle says...
11:32am Fri 3 Jul 09

I am trying very hard to feel surprise at this news item. Sadly ,I am not in the least.
Just makes me wonder why he hadn't been investigated long ago .

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TheWizzard says...
12:07pm Fri 3 Jul 09

I think they should all be investigated, mp's, county councillors and local councillors

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bruce67 says...
1:35pm Fri 3 Jul 09

i cant write what i really think of this man its not nice...he should resign and be sent down to prison ~ or the local residental home for elderly persons as no difference in his biased opinion!!!

LORD HANNINGFIELD OUT!!!!!!

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Mr.Westham. says...
1:57pm Fri 3 Jul 09

He should be forced to stand-down from his post...
never mind allowing him a possible resignation, openly SACK HIM PUBLICALLY for being caught with his hand in the till...
it shouldn't be just pay-any-back and we will forget it, a criminal record and a spell in prison would wake this clown up & all other MP's caught on the fiddle!
And never allowed to hold any position of trust ever again...
We need an example of what can happen, let him be that example!

Then overnight I would expect MP's expense accounts would suddenly be urgently corrected fully without question or prompting!

Lets face it, If you worked in a bank, and just £5 casually slid into your pocket, its highly likely to end in a prison sentence & criminal record!

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Poacher says...
2:10pm Fri 3 Jul 09

Everyone has jumped the gun abit here. You might not like the man but let the Police do there investigation first and see what they turn up before we judge him on fraud charges

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mark28 says...
2:58pm Fri 3 Jul 09

What they should do is look at his chaffeurs driving log and that should tell you if he has been caught with his fingers in the till, I bet he has!!!

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marshman says...
4:39pm Fri 3 Jul 09

By staying in office for the duration of the investigation he does nothing but bring disgrace to it. An honourable man would step aside now.

If he's cleared, he comes out more shiny that if he stays.

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Sdapeze says...
5:49pm Fri 3 Jul 09

I hope they throw the book at the smug prat!

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Taj says...
7:36pm Fri 3 Jul 09

I hope they go back over the last few years and look at the business trips as well may as well start sorting all the politicians out while we have the chance

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perini says...
10:03pm Fri 3 Jul 09

Hopefully he is the front edge of the wedge and all the smarmy money grabbing pr*cks will also be brought to justice - but somehow I doubt that any of our non elected cabinet ministers will get any more than a slap on the wrist!

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shallotman says...
9:03am Sat 4 Jul 09

I would rather the Inland Revenue do the investigation, I have no confidence in the Police.

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Download says...
11:50am Sat 4 Jul 09

One of the rare occasions I'll have to agree with you Sneeze!
Hangingfield for the chop.

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Sdapeze says...
1:18pm Sat 4 Jul 09

Thank you Dim.

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Download says...
9:53pm Sat 4 Jul 09

I'll ignore you in future Sdapeze. Don't be too upset, you are, after all, the weakest link.

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Boris says...
10:12pm Sat 4 Jul 09

Sdapeze is actually right about half the time. He vaunts an honourable and ancient name. Look him up on Google and you will find the link to his blog on page 1.

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Boris says...
10:17pm Sat 4 Jul 09

And now for the subject at heading. I don't care about Lord Bonkers's expenses. I do care very much about the damage he plans to do to our secondary schools. If his expense claims bring him down, that will be ideal.
Remember Al Capone, one of the worst criminals in American history. They couldn't pin his murders on him but they got him for tax evasion.
It doesn't matter how they get rid of Lord Bonkers, provided he goes.

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Sdapeze says...
12:24pm Sun 5 Jul 09

The man is a confirmed bachelor who lives in a very desirable village community, a long way away from Colchester. His aim is to make millions of pounds in 'savings' and to keep our counciul tax down. In return the money from the 'savings' ie our schools, etc. will go into the black hole of council pensions, of which he himself will benefit. He is the last person who should be dictating to us about our community schools. It is immoral and I hope that they find him out and throw the book at him, the smug prat.

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soul man says...
5:19am Tue 7 Jul 09

seems like this robber took it serious, when he heard the saying, THE LORD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES, TO OUR MONEY, they are all modern day robin hoods in reverse, rob fron the poor give to the rich

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Ello! says...
11:32am Wed 8 Jul 09

Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield faces anal probe

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castro says...
2:32pm Wed 8 Jul 09

hanningfield confirmed bachlor well that makes sense why his b/f stayed at claridges pd for by ceo of essex

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