Liberal Burblings

It is hard to imagine a more pitiful figure than that of Margaret Moran as she attended court today. Compare this photo, at the height of her political career, of her proudly wearing a hat with a large red flower in it, with this photo of her today in the Evening Standard. Indeed, the Telegraph helpfully shows both photos side by side here.

Then have a look at the video below of her departure from the court. She was obviously crying throughout, as she did, reportedly, throughout the five minute hearing. The referral of charges were apparently delayed because of her ill health.

I don’t think I have ever seen anyone leaving court in such a pitiable state.

I feel sympathy for her and her family, as a fellow human being.

She is, of course, innocent unless and until she is proven guilty.

But it is hard not to feel mixed emotions here. The BBC relates the charges Ms Moran faces here:

Prosecutor Louis Mably told the court that the charges involved a total of around £80,000.

The Evening Standard says:

Moran, 56, the former MP for LutonSouth, is accused of the largest fraud in the parliamentary expenses scandal.

It is all rather tragic.

It may be timely to remember how Ms Moran first responded to the allegations on the BBC Politics Show in the clip below. It was interesting to hear that “the reality of my life”, as she put it, was that she needed three homes, including one in Southampton, 100 miles from her constituency. But what was not entirely clearly answered is why the taxpayer had to support such a network of households.

Related posts:

1. Ex-Labour MP Margaret Moran faces 21 charges concerning more than £60,000
2. Well done Margaret Moran
3. ‘Margaret Moran to be charged over exes’
4. Margaret Moran keeps digging
5. Moat claimer to stand down + has Esther sounded the political death knell for M Moran?

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