PRIME Minister Gordon Brown stirred a fresh row over legal aid for the three Labour MPs accused of fiddling parliamentary expenses.

He declared they would have to refund their legal expenses, prompting a clash with the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales.

The disclosure that David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine would receive legal aid was denounced as a “complete outrage” by Tory leader David Cameron, who promised a review of the system if he won power.

But Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Labour had already brought in reforms, against Tory opposition, to enable the courts to means-test white-collar defendants for legal aid. The changes were not being implemented in time to cover the MPs’ case.

Asked about the case, Mr Brown said: “I think this money will have to be paid back by these politicians.

“I think the evidence is that people in their position will have to pay back the money – or most of the money – they get in legal aid.

“We have actually abolished this free legal aid from the end of June, so it has to be means-tested from the end of June and they wouldn’t have got it in these circumstances.

“The law has changed, so I think the money will have to be paid back.”

But Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said: “It is a principle of our legal system that anyone charged with a criminal offence before the Crown Court is entitled to legal representation.

“This is a vital part of ensuring that charges against a defendant must be fully proved in a fair trial.

“This must require the provision of legal aid. The Government has recently introduced a means test for such cases to ensure those who can afford to contribute to the costs of their representation are asked to do so.