-will receive taxpayer-funded legal aid to fight court cases
Three Labour MPs accused of a ?60,000 expenses fraud will get legal aid, it was announced last night.
In a move described as 'an outrage' by David Cameron, officials revealed the disgraced politicians had applied successfully for the taxpayer to pay costs which could reach ?1million.
They will use the money to pay for the barristers they have hired to argue in court that they are immune from prosecution.
The revelation came as the expenses scandal-battered Parliament was formally dissolved, ending their status as MPs.
And it coincided with a manifesto pledge by the Labour party - from which they were suspended - to slash the ?2.1billion annual legal aid bill.
The three - David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine - are due to go on trial later this year accused of theft by false accounting over receiving almost ?60,000 in allowances through false mortgage applications, rent claims and invoices for services.
They have already hired two leading QCs who will charge up to ?250 an hour.
And court officials decided it was 'in the interests of justice' for the public purse to fund their cases.
Their applications were approved immediately, in contrast to dozens of others, including the families of the 7/7 and Omagh atrocities, who had to fight bitter battles for public aid.
One of the three ex-MPs last night insisted they were being 'treated just like anybody else'.
Mr Morley said: 'All this is in the hands of my lawyers but I understand if you meet the requirements set down in the rules you will qualify for legal aid just like anybody else. I don't expect any special treatment and I am not receiving any.'
But last night Mr Cameron said: 'What a complete outrage. The people who wouldn't even stand in the dock and answer the charges now expect you to pay for their defence.
'A Conservative government would have a review of legal aid; and there won't be legal aid available for Members of Parliament who are accused of fiddling their expenses.'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: 'People will be dismayed that on the last day of this rotten and corrupt Parliament, these MPs are using taxpayers' money to try to get themselves out of these allegations.'
The three applied under rules currently being phased out that see individual courts decide whether funding a defence is 'in the interests of justice'.
The rules are being phased out on a court-by-court basis and replaced with a means test.
Speaking to Sky News last night, Chancellor Alistair Darling said: 'I can understand why people are hopping mad about this.'
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: 'It is simply a matter of chance that [the means test] is yet to be introduced in Southwark, where the former MPs are being tried.'
An HM Courts Service spokesman confirmed an application for legal aid for the three men was granted last Friday.
But the Legal Services Commission, which oversees legal aid, said it had the power to ask a court to pay back some or all of the bill at the end of the case.
The three have already said they are going to claim they are immune from prosecution under Parliamentary privilege, introduced in the 1689 Bill of Rights.
The fourth man to be charged, Conservative Lord Hanningfield - accused of making false claims for travel allowances - has said he will not apply for legal aid.
Three Labour MPs accused of a ?60,000 expenses fraud will get legal aid, it was announced last night.
In a move described as 'an outrage' by David Cameron, officials revealed the disgraced politicians had applied successfully for the taxpayer to pay costs which could reach ?1million.
They will use the money to pay for the barristers they have hired to argue in court that they are immune from prosecution.
Legal aid: Jim Devine, David Chater and Elliot Morley (below), will get taxpayer-funded money to fight their court case over the expenses scandal
The revelation came as the expenses scandal-battered Parliament was formally dissolved, ending their status as MPs.
And it coincided with a manifesto pledge by the Labour party - from which they were suspended - to slash the ?2.1billion annual legal aid bill.
The three - David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine - are due to go on trial later this year accused of theft by false accounting over receiving almost ?60,000 in allowances through false mortgage applications, rent claims and invoices for services.
Granted: Elliot Morley is one of three MPs who will get legal aid
They have already hired two leading QCs who will charge up to ?250 an hour.
And court officials decided it was 'in the interests of justice' for the public purse to fund their cases.
Their applications were approved immediately, in contrast to dozens of others, including the families of the 7/7 and Omagh atrocities, who had to fight bitter battles for public aid.
One of the three ex-MPs last night insisted they were being 'treated just like anybody else'.
Mr Morley said: 'All this is in the hands of my lawyers but I understand if you meet the requirements set down in the rules you will qualify for legal aid just like anybody else. I don't expect any special treatment and I am not receiving any.'
But last night Mr Cameron said: 'What a complete outrage. The people who wouldn't even stand in the dock and answer the charges now expect you to pay for their defence.
'A Conservative government would have a review of legal aid; and there won't be legal aid available for Members of Parliament who are accused of fiddling their expenses.'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: 'People will be dismayed that on the last day of this rotten and corrupt Parliament, these MPs are using taxpayers' money to try to get themselves out of these allegations.'
The three applied under rules currently being phased out that see individual courts decide whether funding a defence is 'in the interests of justice'.
The rules are being phased out on a court-by-court basis and replaced with a means test.
Speaking to Sky News last night, Chancellor Alistair Darling said: 'I can understand why people are hopping mad about this.'
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: 'It is simply a matter of chance that [the means test] is yet to be introduced in Southwark, where the former MPs are being tried.'
An HM Courts Service spokesman confirmed an application for legal aid for the three men was granted last Friday.
But the Legal Services Commission, which oversees legal aid, said it had the power to ask a court to pay back some or all of the bill at the end of the case.
The three have already said they are going to claim they are immune from prosecution under Parliamentary privilege, introduced in the 1689 Bill of Rights.
The fourth man to be charged, Conservative Lord Hanningfield - accused of making false claims for travel allowances - has said he will not apply for legal aid.
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