Welsh Conservative MP Christopher Davies today pleaded guilty to expenses fraud.

Davies, 51, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire, admitted making a claim under the MPs’ allowances scheme in March 2016 and providing an invoice that he knew to be “false or misleading”.

He also admitted a charge of attempting to provide false or misleading information for allowances claims.

The claims related to furniture he bought for his parliamentary office in 2016.

Thomas Forster QC, defending, told Westminster magistrates’ court that Davies expresses his “sincere and unreserved apology”.

The judge said the magistrates’ court did not have sufficient sentencing powers and that Davies would be sent to a crown court at a later date.

Davies was elected in 2015, winning the seat from the Liberal Democrats and successfully defended it at the 2017 election.