SCUNTHORPE MP Elliot Morley has been suspended from the Labour Party.

Mr Morley, along with two other Labour MPs who have been charged over the expenses scandal, were suspended from the party today.

Mr Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine have all been charged with false accounting.

A Labour statement released this morning said: "The Labour Party's general secretary has today suspended David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliot Morley's membership of the Labour Party in light of the serious allegations against them.

"They had already been barred from standing for Parliament as Labour candidates.

"The decision follows a formal process which included representations from the Chief Whip and consultations with party officials over the weekend and means the three MPs have been suspended from the whip and cannot attend any Labour Party meetings."

Mr Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party last May.

House of Commons leader Harriet Harman added that she was 'completely satisfied' the ancient law of Parliamentary Privilege did not apply to cases of theft or fraud.

Privilege is part of the 1689 Bill of Rights and, among other things, guarantees MPs freedom from arrest on civil matters in the House of Commons.

Ms Harman said: "No-one is above the law and that includes Members of Parliament.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions has charged these MPs and they will therefore stand trial.

"There is a responsibility on all of us to make sure that we don't do or say anything that allows people to escape the law by arguing they can't get a fair trial."

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