Labour MP denies £64,000 housing scam

A Labour MP who denies carrying out a housing fraud which cost a local authority £64,000 will face trial later this year because of the ‘public interest’ in the case. Apsana Begum, 30, won the east London seat of Poplar and Limehouse with a 28,904 majority in the general election in December 2019. Begum faces three counts of fraud dating between 18 January 2013 and 31 March 2016. Due to the pandemic she was excused from attendance at Snaresbrook Crown…