A top Tory MP has denied any wrongdoing after The Times reported his home had been raided by police in connection with a £100,000 benefits fraud investigation.
Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough, was questioned in connection with his mother-in-law Dorothy Sweeney’s nursing home care following a dispute with Northamptonshire County Council.
The Times reported this morning that Bone was questioned about possibly inaccurate information being supplied to the council about the level of his mother-in-law’s assets.
Anyone with assets of more than £23,250 is expected to pay their own nursing home fees.
However, in a statement released following this morning’s story Bone said: "Ultimately, the issue at the heart of this dispute is very simple: either Jennie and I have looked after her mother properly, or we are devious, thieving, crooks.
"I know the answer to that question and based on all the evidence, which they have, they should know too that we are totally innocent."
His wife Jennie has been in dispute with Northamptonshire County Council since 2009 about the funding of her mother’s care.
The MP said he has written to the chief constable of Northamptonshire to complain about the length of time the investigation is taking.
While his wife has applied to Northampton County Court to have a case against her struck out as she believes the council has no reasonable grounds for taking legal action.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire County Council said: "We have been advised that we cannot comment on the matter at all."
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