Cameron in vow over expense 'abuse'

Mr Cameron said the conduct of some Tory MPs was "out of order" following the latest disclosures that taxpayer-funded allowances were used to pay for the upkeep of country estates and maintenance of private swimming pools.

"I am angry about what has happened. It is out of order and some of it is abuse of taxpayers' money and I am going to deal with it," he said.

It is understood that the options he is considering include demanding the MPs involved repay the claims which are excessive.

Any who refuse could face the ultimate sanction of having the Conservative whip withdrawn - effectively expelling them from the parliamentary party.

The latest embarrassing revelations about MPs' allowances - which also include an expenses claim for horse manure - come amid evidence that the controversy has hit confidence in both main parties.

According to the Daily Telegraph's disclosures from the leaked expenses receipts, senior Tory backbenchers Michael Ancram, James Arbuthnot and Stewart Jackson claimed for maintenance of swimming pools.

Former shadow defence secretary Mr Ancram, who is the Marquess of Lothian, claimed £98.58 for the repair of a swimming pool boiler, the paper said. He also asked for reimbursement of £1,117.43 for a gardening bill which included "cleaning up moss etc" at a house in Wiltshire.

Mr Arbuthnot, who is chairman of the Defence Select Committee, claimed £1,471 for garden and swimming pool costs, as well as £2,433 "for the expense of our housekeeper". Tory communities spokesman Mr Jackson also claimed £304.10 for refurbishing his swimming pool. All three MPs have said they will repay the swimming pool costs.

David Heathcoat-Amory, a backbench MP, claimed more than £380 for horse manure, with other items including £2 of mouse poison and £1.95 for sunflower seeds, according to the disclosures. Among the other claims were from Douglas Hogg, a former Agriculture Secretary, who claimed more than £2,000 for clearing the moat on his Lincolnshire estate.