Former MEP 'can be prosecuted'

A FORMER Labour MEP who allegedly cheated on his expenses cannot escape prosecution by claiming that the case falls outside the jurisdiction of courts in England and Wales, the High Court said yesterday.

Overturning a ruling made in Manchester Crown Court last year, the High Court said Leslie Huckfield, 50, former MEP for Merseyside East, could be prosecuted on charges of obtaining more than pounds 2,500 by deception.

Last September, Mr Justice Morland said he would infringe the sovereignty of the European Parliament if he heard the case against Mr Huckfield.

But that argument was dismissed yesterday. Lord Justice Leggatt, sitting with Mr Justice Pill, said: 'The question whether they were obtained by dishonesty is a question of national law which is capable of being raised by a prosecutor in criminal proceedings in a national court.'

There was no provision in EC law for MEPs to be exempted from criminal liability.

The judges refused to refer the issue to the European Court as it 'admits only one sensible solution', they said. Further delay in bringing the case to trial would be wrong.

Afterwards, Mr Huckfield said: 'I have now asked my solicitors to apply to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords.' His solicitor, Michael Fisher, said the Crown Prosecution Service had indicated that it would consider whether to start a new prosecution.

Law report, page 6