Disgraced Labour MP Eric Illsley today said he is to resign after being convicted of abusing expenses.
Illsley’s decision to step down as an MP will be a relief to MPs who feared more damage to Parliament’s already tarnished reputation.
The revelation yesterday that he could potentially receive his salary while in prison if a sentence of less than 12 months is imposed prompted both the prime minister DavidCameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband to urge him to go voluntarily.
There had been suggestions that the House could be asked to back a motion expelling the MP, which would have been the first time such a mechanism had been used in decades.
But Commons Speaker John Bercow made clear today that could not happen until court proceedings were complete because the matter was still sub judice.
PA
