Trial date set for MP Apsana Begum charged with 'housing fraud'

The case came before the Old Bailey today (June 17) as a hearing to schedule her trial for Snaresbrook Crown Court, which is expected to last six to eight days.

The 30-year-old MP who won the seat for Labour at the 2019 general election "vigorously" denies three charges of “dishonestly failing to disclose information in order to make gains for herself or another, or expose another to a loss”.

Apsana at home joining online community debate during Lockdown (Image: Zoom)

Her current address is not being included in the charge details for security reasons.

This comes following the 2016 murder of Jo Cox, who lived at Wapping with her husband and two children who was stabbed to death in her Yorkshire constituency.

Ms Begum didn’t give her current address when she appeared last December at Westminster Magistrates' Court to plead not guilty to the three charges against her.

The deputy chief magistrate at the time ruled that being MP for Poplar and Limehouse identified her without doubt and since the death of Jo Cox, she did not have to disclose her address.

Judge Justice Whipple ruled at the Old Bailey today to continue the restriction.

The charges were made following an investigation by Tower Hamlets Council.

The investigation came after allegations made during the 2019 election campaign at public meetings held at the Isle of Dogs and at Aldgate, reported at the time.

Apsana Begum... at cladding protest at Canary Wharf in May, 2021 (Image: Mike Brooke)