FORMER Stockton North Labour MP Frank Cook lost his libel case against the Sunday Telegraph today over reports he claimed £5 on expenses to cover money put into a collection by an aide representing him at a Battle of Britain memorial service.

Mr Justice Tugendhat had already held at the High Court that the words about which Mr Cook complained were honest comment.

Today he said Mr Cook had failed in his attempt to defeat the defence by proving malice - that the newspaper or its journalists did not believe their comments were justified.

Mr Cook sued over three articles, including a leading article, which appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on May 31 2009, reporting that his Parliamentary expenses claims included one for reimbursement of the donation, made by an aide representing the then MP for Stockton North.

Mr Cook, who reimbursed the aide, admitted having made the claim for £5 - which was disallowed by Parliamentary authorities - but said he did so by mistake.

Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo