Geoffrey Robinson referred to police over suspected 'claims irregularities'

Police are "assessing" the referral concerning the former Coventry North West MP



Former Coventry North West MP Geoffrey Robinson has been referred to the Metropolitan Police for suspected “claims irregularities” in parliamentary payments involving a female employee over whom he had power of attorney.

Police are “assessing” the referral concerning the 81-year-old former Labour MP after his friend Brenda Price was paid a £30,000-a-year salary for working in his office until the age of 89, the Mail on Sunday reported.

The paper said leaked emails showed Mr Robinson told the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) that Ms Price, who died last month aged 90, worked 30 hours per week as his ‘constituency financial officer’ in his Coventry North West constituency office.

Ms Price had worked for him since 1997 but an Ipsa submission was only made in January 2018 - three months after she gave Mr Robinson power of attorney.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “In December 2019, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. This is currently being assessed.”

Ipsa confirmed it had made the referral, while the Labour Party noted Mr Robinson was no longer an MP.

The Mail also claimed Mr Robinson charged the Commons almost £1,000 per month to rent a room from Ms Price.

Mr Robinson could not be contacted for comment.

I doubt anything will come of this