More Labour MPs rush to quit as Hoon apologises for claim

The Labour MP for Bury North, who claimed almost £13,000 on a mortgage that did not exist, said he would quit after talks with Labour chiefs and local party officials.

Two former ministers who were not under pressure from the expenses scandal also said they were joining the exodus of Labour MPs. Children's minister Beverley Hughes and former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said they wanted more time with their families. Another Labour backbencher, Jim Devine, may be deselected after being referred to the party's "star chamber" over allegations he submitted receipts from a firm that may not exist.Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon was dragged deeper into the maelstrom today after admitting wrongly claiming nearly £400 for household bills. He apologised, but already faces accusations that he "flipped" his designated second home.

Gordon Brown has defended Mr Hoon, but his position appeared weakened today as the Prime Minister prepares to reshuffle his Cabinet.

Mr Hoon, defence secretary until 2005, lived in a grace-and-favour home in Admiralty House from 2002 to 2006, while claiming the second home allowance on his Derbyshire home and also renting out a house in Courtney Street, south London, for which he had used the allowance before 1997.

After being demoted from commons leader to Europe minister, he left the grace-and-favour residence and bought a London town house which he designated his second home.

He ended up claiming on two properties at the same time — the London house and his constituency home on which he had paid bills a year in advance, according to the Daily Telegraph.

"There was an entirely inadvertent overlap," he said. "As soon as this was brought to my attention I repaid £384 for the additional months of TV licence, British Gas homecare agreement and home insurance, covering the months remaining in the year after I moved. I unreservedly apologise."

Mr Hoon has said HM Revenue & Customs confirmed no capital gains was due on the sale in 2006 of the Courtney Street house on which he is said to have made a £300,000 profit.

London minister Tony McNulty may face the axe over his expense claims. The Telegraph alleged the MP for Harrow East claimed more than £2,000 for three bills from accountancy firm HW Fisher.

Mr McNulty's spokesman said he had declared the accountancy work as a benefit in kind, on which tax was paid at 40 per cent.