A former political adviser has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming expenses through the Parliamentary travel booking system, in a case that highlights the internal controls governing how public money is accounted for within Westminster's staffing structures.
Matthew Torbitt, 35, admitted two counts of fraud by false representation at Thames Magistrates' Court. He had worked as an adviser to Christian Wakeford, the Labour MP for Bury South, during the period covered by the charges.
The court heard that between August 2022 and September 2024, Torbitt submitted rail ticket claims that were "not for Parliamentary purposes". He also admitted making a false claim for travel and accommodation expenses on 2 October 2024.
Prosecutor Maisha Mannan told the court that the total value of the fraudulent claims was estimated by the Crown Prosecution Service to exceed £6,000, though she said the precise figure would be calculated ahead of sentencing.
Torbitt entered guilty pleas to both counts. District Judge Navneet Sher committed the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court, where sentencing will take place at a date yet to be fixed. The judge indicated that a hearing was unlikely to be listed within the next four weeks.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the investigation began after officers received a report alleging that a member of staff working for an MP had made unauthorised purchases through a Parliamentary travel booking system. Torbitt was subsequently charged by postal requisition on 9 June.
The Parliamentary travel booking system is used by MPs' staff to arrange and process official travel and accommodation linked to constituency and Westminster duties. Claims made through the system are intended to be restricted to activity connected to an MP's Parliamentary functions, with reimbursement drawn from public funds administered through the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which oversees MPs' expenses and staffing costs.
Cases involving misuse of Parliamentary expense systems are relatively rare but carry particular scrutiny given the direct link to public money and the oversight role IPSA plays in maintaining standards around MPs' offices. Any prosecution stemming from alleged misuse of the booking system is likely to be viewed within Westminster as a test of the adequacy of existing verification checks on staff expense claims.
Torbitt held a series of advisory roles supporting Labour frontbenchers between 2018 and 2024, before more recently working as a political commentator. He has appeared as a commentator on several broadcast outlets, including GB News, LBC, Sky News, BBC Newsnight and Times Radio.
Christian Wakeford has represented Bury South since 2019, having been elected as a Conservative MP before defecting to Labour in January 2022. He was re-elected as the constituency's Labour MP in 2024. There is no suggestion that Wakeford was aware of or involved in the fraudulent claims made by his former adviser.
The case will now proceed to Snaresbrook Crown Court, where a sentencing date is expected to be confirmed in due course. Formal confirmation of the total sum defrauded, as calculated by the Crown Prosecution Service, is expected to be presented to the court ahead of that hearing.