FORMER Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield will stand trial accused of fiddling his expenses, a judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Saunders rejected arguments by Lord Hanningfield and three ex-Labour MPs – David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine – that they were protected by parliamentary privilege and should be dealt with by Parliament alone.

All four, who were excused from attending the hour-long hearing at Southwark Crown Court in central London, deny theft by false accounting.

The judge said: “I can see no logical, practical or moral justification for a claim for expenses being covered by privilege; and I can see no legal justification for it either.”

Each of the defendants was granted leave to appeal against the judge’s ruling.

Mr Justice Saunders said: “Very important constitutional principles are involved which must be respected, and that must be the case even if it leads to a result which is unpopular not only with the public but also with Members of Parliament.

“The principle all men are equal before the law is an important one and should be observed unless there is good reason why it should not apply.

“To do otherwise would risk bringing both the courts and Parliament into disrepute.”

He added it was preferable for “criminal allegations to be decided by criminal courts”.

Lord Hanningfield, 69, of West Hanningfield, near Chelmsford, faces six charges of making dishonest claims for travelling allowances. Each of the men, who are all on unconditional bail, face trials, pending the outcome of any appeal.