Expenses scandal: Police called in to investigate

The news that Commons authorities have asked the police to move in came as Cabinet ministers shamed by their expenses claims united to put the blame on other people .

The Prime Minister, whose claims included cleaning services organised by his brother, said "the system" was at fault.

Lord Mandelson accused the press of smearing politicians while Hazel Blears, who listed three different addresses as her second home in the space of a year, said it was all approved by Commons officials.

Among thousands of expenses receipts obtained by the Daily Telegraph was the revelation that Justice Secretary Jack Straw over-claimed for his council tax and mortgage bills before realising his mistake and paying back the money.

Other claims from MPs included one for horse manure at £10 a bag and another for a 45p packet of Maltesers.

Former anti-sleaze MP Martin Bell called for resignations. "I would have thought that Hazel Blears should resign," he said. "To claim public money against three homes in one year is beyond carelessness."

Communities Secretary Ms Blears was among several Cabinet ministers who switched around the address they declare to be their "second home" in a way that allowed them to claim for refurbishments of more than one home. Other revelations from the leaked Commons files include:

● Gordon Brown paid his brother Andrew £6,577 over 26 months for "cleaning services", with the Prime Minister's bill passed to the taxpayer. Andrew Brown threatened to call the police today when the Standard asked him about the arrangement.

● The Prime Minister said his London flat was his second home for years, but in 2006 switched to listing his Scottish home as a second home, allowing him to claim for redecoration and furniture.

● Justice Secretary Jack Straw has repaid more than £1,500 after charging the taxpayer double the council tax he had paid.

● Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott claimed for thousands of pounds of food a year and for lavatory repairs twice.

The records also reveal episodes where MPs bullied Commons officials into approving claims that were initially deemed to be against the rules, such as for children's furnishings.

No 10 said Mr Brown had "full confidence" in his Cabinet colleagues but would not be drawn into using the word "integrity".

Challenged about his claims, the Prime Minister said: "The system doesn't work. I've said it doesn't work, it's got to be changed. We voted for change and that change has got to come quickly."

With Westminster in panic, senior MPs moved to bring forward the publication of an "official version" of the receipts, originally due in July. This version will have many details withheld, including addresses, names and suppliers — ostensibly for security reasons. What horrified them was the prospect of scandals dripping out over weeks rather than their own plan, which was to put out everything on one day, as MPs slipped away for their summer holidays.

The Commons authorities were today taking legal advice on getting an injunction to stop further unauthorised revelations.

Mr Bell, the former TV journalist who won a seat in the Commons on an anti-corruption ticket in 1997, said: "If any one of these people worked for a private company or corporation and did this sort of thing they would be out on their ear and probably facing criminal charges."

Ms Blears told reporters in her Salford constituency: "I have only ever had one small, one-bedroom flat in London. I live here in Salford, but to be an MP, I have to have somewhere to live in London." But when challenged about why she repeatedly changed the designated place for her second home, she walked away.

Tory leader David Cameron admitted the public were angry about abuses but stopped short of criticising individual MPs. He said: "Everyone has to explain why they've claimed what they've claimed. They have got to explain whether it is within the rules and if it is outside the rules then it has be looked at."

He called for the system of allowances to be reformed.

Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg said the revelations made politicians look "ridiculous at best, corrupt at worst". He added: "I accept that the whole system is in disrepute."