A Labour MP has been accused of “jumping the queue” for social housing on the fifth day of her housing fraud trial.
Apsana Begum MP is accused of three counts of housing fraud which includes lying about her living situation to gain social housing.
She was given a social housing studio flat in Tower Hamlets in March 2016.
The prosecution allege that she failed to notify Tower Hamlets Council of changes to her circumstances which would have delayed her acquiring social housing.
Ms Begum denies all of the charges and the defence has argued that her finances were managed by her “controlling” ex-husband at the time.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell was called as a witness for Ms Begum’s character.
Mr McDonnell called her “honest, sincere, and extremely caring.”
He added that had the Labour Party won the last election, he would have considered appointing Ms Begum to the role of parliamentary private secretary.
Prosecuting, Mr James Marsland accused Ms Begum of lying about her record on social housing because she had “too much to lose” as an MP.
Apsana Begum made an initial application for social housing in Tower Hamlets in 2011 on the basis of overcrowding as she lived in her parents’ address with six people in a three bedroom house, two of whom later moved out.
In May 2013, Ms Begum moved into a new residence with her then-husband Ehtashamul Haque. She stayed there until March 2013.
The defence says that during this period Mr Haque made numerous social housing bids using Ms Begum’s details without her knowledge.
Under cross-examination by the prosecution, Ms Begum said that Mr Haque must have gained the details for the application by finding it in a notebook which she has since lost.
However, Mr Marsland argued that Mr Haque could not have possibly gained an advantage in social housing while acting alone.
Mr Marsland said: “He can’t make a gain… without your involvement. Do you agree?”
Ms Begum replied: “I do agree, yes.”
Mr Marsland asked: “He’s making many, many bids for no reason, isn’t he?”
Ms Begum said: “I can’t explain his behaviour.”
Mr Marsland added that all correspondence about social housing would have been sent to the address of Ms Begum’s parents where she first made the application, and argued that this would make it almost impossible for him to gain social housing by himself.
Mr Marsland said: “Not only is it pointless because he can’t make a gain, it wouldn’t even work, do you see?”
Ms Begum replied: “I can’t explain his behaviour”
Mr Marsland asked: “The reality is, this is you making these bids isn’t it?”
Ms Begum replied: “No.”
Mr Marsland went on to ask: “You could have made a gain, couldn’t you?”
Ms Begum said: “I could.”
Mr Marsland said: “Mr Haque could not but you could, that’s the position isn’t it?”
Ms Begum said: “I could but I didn’t.”
The prosecution argued that Ms Begum returned to her parents’ address in 2015 but that she had not informed the council of her changing circumstances, allowing her to secure social housing within a matter of months.
Mr Marsland said that Ms Begum lied to an investigation by Tower Hamlets Council into her social housing application in 2020, after she had been elected as an MP.
He said: “Is the truth that you lied because you had too much to lose at that point?”
Ms Begum replied: “No, I don’t agree with your conclusions.”
Mr Marsland asked: “You’re lying to the jury now about this aren’t you?”
Ms Begum said: “No, I’m not lying.”
Mr Marsland added that although the average waiting time for council housing is three years Ms Begum received her studio flat within four months.
Ms Begum also said that she had called Tower Hamlets Housing Options in 2013 and 2015 to update them on her changing circumstances, but the prosecution stated that there was nor record of anyone logging or taking action on the calls.
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