A member of the House of Lords who has been charged with criminal offences in relation to expenses claims has been suspended from the Conservative party.
Lord Hanningfield faces six charges under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 for false accounting, the CPS announced today.
It is alleged that between March 2006 and May 2009 he "dishonestly submitted claims for expenses to which he knew he was not entitled, including numerous claims for overnight expenses for staying in London when records show that he was driven home and did not stay overnight in London".
A Conservative party spokesman said:
"Lord Hanningfield has today resigned his position in the House of Lords as shadow business spokesman.
"David Cameron has also asked Lord Strathclyde, leader of the opposition in the House of Lords, to suspend the Conservative whip with immediate effect."
Lord Hanningfield, 69, is leader of Essex County Council. He was ennobled in 1998.
Three Labour MPs – David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine – have also been charged section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 for false accounting.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd