THE former deputy leader of Lancashire County Council submitted fictitious expenses after masterminding the election of a Labour MP, a court was told.
Frank McKenna, who was also the leader of the council's Labour group and a member of the North West Regional Assembly at the time of his arrest, allegedly committed the offence during the 1997 General Election.
McKenna, 39, of Skelmersdale, and fellow West Lancashire councillor John Fillis, 43, of Ormskirk, both denied conspiracy to defraud when they appeared at Chester Crown Court yesterday. McKenna also denied perjury.
The court was told that during the 1997 General Election the expenses incurred by the successful Labour candidate for West Lancashire, Colin Pickthall, exceeded the permitted maximum,
The defendants were allegedly involved in covering up that excess and in compiling and submitting a false expenses return for the campaign.
The two defendants were also voted in as Labour county councillors in Lancashire on the same day.
At the time of the election, McKenna was the election agent and parliamentary assistant of Mr Pickthall, and Fillis was the West Lancashire Constituency Labour Party Treasurer, the court heard.
(Proceeding)
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