ESSEX: Met investigates Lord Hanningfield expenses

By mward

LORD Hanningfield has claimed he is the victim of a smear campaign after it emerged he is being investigated by police over his expenses.

The Metropolitan Police are said to be investigating whether the Conservative leader of Essex County Council claimed an overnight allowance for staying in London on occasions where he had actually travelled back to his home in West Hanningfield.

Following the allegations published today in the national press, Lord Hanningfield has protested his innocence and accused an unnamed Liberal Democrat MP of conducting a smear campaign.

He said: "A Liberal Democrat MP has made a complaint about my expenses to the police.

"This MP has been determined to blacken my name with personal attacks in the press and in Parliament for actions that I have taken in trying to improve the quality of education in Essex.

"Discussion and debate over policy has given way to personal attacks and innuendo.

"The House of Lords authorities have no complaint in relation to my expenses and I am satisfied that I can account for them.

"I will not let this distract me from getting on and delivering on what is important to the people of Essex - enhanced services and better value for money - and from my duties in the House of Lords."

Lord Hanningfield is one of three peers and two MPs being investigated by police in the wake of the expenses scandal.