A GB News pundit has admitted fraud in relation to his parliamentary expenses when he was a Labour aide.
Matthew Torbitt, a prominent political commentator who once described himself as “Britain’s favourite lefty”, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at a hearing at Thames magistrates court on Monday.
During a brief appearance the 35-year-old, dressed in a navy blue suit and an orange tie, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and guilty plea. The offences occurred between 2022 and 2024, when Torbitt was working for Christian Wakeford, the MP for Bury South.
The court heard that Torbitt, who claims to champion “positive social change”, obtained free rail tickets and accommodation for trips that did not relate to parliamentary business.
Maisha Mannan, prosecuting, said the rail tickets were booked between 23 August 2022 and 29 September 2024 via the parliamentary travel system. She said on 2 October 2024 Torbitt submitted a separate claim for reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses.
The court heard that the claims totalled more than £6,000, according to an early estimate by the Crown Prosecution Service. Their exact worth will be determined when Torbitt is sentenced. Expenses filed by MPs’ staff are funded by the taxpayer.
The Guardian revealed last month that the Metropolitan police began an investigation into Torbitt in April last year after receiving a report that a parliamentary staffer had made “unauthorised purchases” through a travel booking system. He was charged on 9 June.
The district judge Navneet Sher granted Torbitt unconditional bail and told him he would be sentenced at Snaresbrook crown court later this year.
Torbitt rose to prominence by sharing his experiences of rough sleeping in his native Manchester as a teenager. As well as appearing frequently as a panellist on GB News, he has also been on the BBC’s Newsnight, Sky News, TalkTV and a range of podcasts.
His introduction to Westminster came when he was “invited to shadow” Andy Burnham in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. At the time, the now prime minister was serving as shadow health secretary.
Torbitt said the internship had been arranged after he impressed Burnham when filming for a documentary. He went on to work as a caseworker for various Labour MPs between 2018 and 2024. He no longer works in parliament.
Torbitt remains a supporter of Burnham, although he has no official role in his team. Last year, he became a senior fellow at the Centre for Social Justice and an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK.
