Jacqui Smith facing sleaze probe over pro-abortion cash donation

The women, who include Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Welfare Minister Caroline Flint, all received cash from Emily's List, a feminist group in favour of a woman's right to choose.

Sir Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, may now hold an inquiry following a complaint that they should have disclosed this financial interest during the recent debate on abortion.

The row comes ahead of Tuesday's Queen's Speech, which is expected to contain a proposed law to reform the regulations on embryo research.

Pro-choice MPs hope to add an amendment to the Bill effectively ending the 'two-doctor rule' so that women seeking a termination would no longer need the signatures of two doctors.

The sleaze complaint has been made by Conservative MP Nadine Dorries. She said: 'These Labour women have compromised their neutrality and effectively sold their votes.'

Emily's List was founded in 1993 by Barbara Follett, the Labour Minister for women's rights and wife of novelist Ken Follett.

In line with the acronym from which it takes its name - Early Money Is Like Yeast (it makes the dough rise) - the group, which is backed in the US by Hillary Clinton, provides money and support to female Labour Party members looking to become Parliamentary candidates.

To qualify for the cash, however, each candidate must sign a declaration saying they support the aims of the pro-choice campaign on abortion.

In the past 14 years, 12 women MPs have received money from Emily's List, including Mrs Follett, Ms Smith, Ms Flint and Gisela Stuart, the former Europe Minister.

But Ms Stuart insisted there was no need to declare the money in the Register of Members' Interests because she had received it before becoming a candidate.

She added: 'Emily's List was about ensuring fair representation. Surely this is something that Ms Dorries should support?'

Val Price, administrator of Emily's List, insisted: 'Our grants were around £250. We are not talking about huge amounts of money.'

The other MPs to receive money were: Claire Curtis-Thomas, member for Crosby, Siobhan McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden), Margaret Moran (Luton South), Kali Mountford (Colne Valley), Joan Ryan (Enfield North), Anne Snelgrove (Swindon

South), Helen Southworth (Warrington South) and Betty Williams (Conwy).