Britain's appeal court rules ex-lawmakers have no immunity over expense scandal charges

Published November 17, 2014

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Court of Appeal says four legislators aren't immune from prosecution following the lawmakers' expense claim scandal.

Three ex-Labour Party legislators in the House of Commons, and a Conservative Party member of the House of Lords, are accused of theft by false accounting.

All four had argued that under Britain's 1689 Bill of Rights they were protected from prosecution by parliamentary privilege — a type of immunity intended to safeguard lawmakers from libel claims over comments they make in debates.

Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge said Friday the men had no immunity, and that the prosecutions should go ahead.

The scandal caught lawmakers billing the public for items including swank second homes, horse manure and pornographic movies.

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