Ex-Labour MP Simon Danczuk won’t face criminal charges over expenses
Case dropped against former Rochdale MP who was forced to pay back over £11,000 even though he deliberately broke rules
EX-MP Simon Danczuk will not face charges after a two-year police probe into his expenses, The Sun can reveal.
The controversial former MP for Rochdale was forced to pay back more than £11,000 in accommodation bills before losing his seat last June.
But it has emerged prosecutors have recommended dropping the case due to a lack of evidence - despite a sleaze inquiry ruling he had deliberately broken the rules.
Mr Danczuk spoke of his “delight” at the decision but furious former political rivals accused the cops and prosecutors of “taking the easy way out.”
Commons chiefs passed details of the over-claiming to the Metropolitan Police in 2016 after their internal report concluded he had “knowingly” abused the expenses system.
The MPs expenses rules state: “A supplement of up to £2,425 a year for each dependant you care for. You will need to certify that the dependant routinely lives with you.”
Mr Danczuk had been claiming for four of his children, despite two of his sons not living with him.
In 2014/15 Mr Danczuk expenses claims hit £205,460 making him the sixth highest Commons claimer that year.
The former MP told The Sun: “I’m pleased to have been cleared, though I am very concerned the Metropolitan Police spent two years and a lot of money investigating a politically motivated complaint.
He hit out: “This is one of several malicious police investigations I have had to put up with over the last three years and they have taken their toll.”
But local campaigner Dave Hennigan, who made the original complaint, blasted the decision.
He told The Sun: “The IPSA investigation was quite clear - Mr Danczuk knowingly claimed expenses he knew he was not entitled to. It was that explicit. This sends the wrong message and I am disappointed but not surprised.”
“The Met decision means that it is open season for MPs to continue claiming what they want. Let’s face it, if this was a normal member of the public fiddling benefits they would have the book thrown at them.”
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