Tories knew of Spelman's nanny nine years ago

Shadow cabinet colleague Peter Ainsworth revealed that he reported Mrs Spelman to the Tory chief whip in 1999.

He said he had acted after a complaint from a member of her own staff that she was paying live-in nanny Tina Haynes out of taxpayer-funded expenses.

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Caroline Spelman is facing fresh questions as it emerged the Tories knew she was paying nanny Tina Haynes (right) from public funds

Mr Ainsworth, the party's environment spokesman, said: 'I went to the chief whip about the matter and his response was to thank me for the information.'

David Cameron has refused to sack Mrs Spelman as party chairman, despite the fact that growing numbers of backbenchers are apparently calling for her to go.

One said: 'A lot of us wouldn't mind if she gets the push.'

Labour MP John Mann said: 'Mr Cameron should stop dithering. There should be no quiet reshuffle. Spelman should be sacked.'

Mr Ainsworth said he acted following a complaint from another of Mrs Spelman's secretaries, Sally Hammond - the wife of Tory MP Stephen Hammond.

She had found out about the payments after wondering why there was so little cash left to pay for office expenses.

The parliamentary standards watchdog has launched an investigation into Mrs Spelman, who says Miss Haynes was paid for carrying out secretarial duties.

The latest development is embarrassing for Mr Cameron, who will now have to fend off even more accusations that his party is mired in sleaze.

It also emerged yesterday that backbenchers Sir Nicholas Winterton and his wife Ann, who have already been censured for breaking housing expenses rules, now plan to claim thousands a year from a new property.

The couple were criticised by parliamentary standards watchdogs for claiming £66,000 in rent and expenses on a £700,000 home which they had bought and transferred to a family trust.

They were banned from claiming any more on the 'additional costs allowance' for the London flat - but were not asked to repay the money they had already claimed.

Now it has emerged that they have decided to move out and rent a different flat in Westminster, where they will be able to claim the ACA. Their old home will be rented out to another tenant.

The arrangement is permitted even under last week's 'root and branch' review of MPs' expenses by a committee chaired by the Speaker.

There were also claims that more than 100 MPs are using their expenses to commit a multi-million pound tax dodge.

Many MPs are avoiding paying capital gains tax by telling HM Revenue and Customs that their second home in London is in fact their main home.

Most MPs' second homes are in London, and so more expensive than homes in the rest of the country. As capital gains tax is not payable on the main home, they can save thousands by choosing the cheaper property to designate as their second home.

Mr Mann said: 'This is the really big fiddle and one that is quite legal. The loophole should be closed once and for all.'

It has also emerged that a Tory MEP who drew up new EU regulations on rubbish had been paid thousands by a major waste firm. Caroline Jackson, whose proposals could see waste firms make millions, was being paid £6,000 a year by UK waste disposal giant Shanks.

Neil O'Brien, of campaign group Open Europe, said: 'There is a clear conflict of interest here. MEPs must not have a financial interest in the companies they are regulating.'