Nanny row MP meets Commons watchdog

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Mrs Spelman referred the case to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon herself after a TV programme revealed she paid Tina Haynes from public funds for a period of months after arriving in the House of Commons in 1997.

She insists she has done nothing wrong, as Ms Haynes was doing secretarial and administrative work at her home - which she was using as her constituency office - as well as providing childcare services outside school hours.

After discussing the arrangement with Mrs Spelman, Mr Lyon must decide whether there is a case for her to answer on misuse of parliamentary staffing allowances, which are intended to fund employees helping with her work as an MP. If he judges that there is, he could launch a full inquiry.

The Tory chairman's account was backed by a statement released by the nanny herself on Saturday, in which Ms Haynes said that in 1997/98 she had "two roles, one helping Mrs Spelman with childcare and another providing secretarial help to her as a MP".

When initially interviewed by BBC2's Newsnight last week, Ms Haynes reportedly said she did no political work for the Meriden MP, but took "the odd phone call" and posted documents for her.

Labour MP John Mann has called on Mrs Spelman to pay back the money claimed from her parliamentary allowances unless she can produce documentary proof of the secretarial services Ms Haynes provided.

Senior Tories have rallied round the party chairman. Shadow home secretary David Davis said he would be "amazed" if there was any substance to the allegations, while shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said he found it "difficult to believe she would do anything wrong".

Mr Mitchell said: "I think Caroline has done exactly the right thing. She has turned the matter over to the Commissioner in the House of Commons to look at."

The spotlight on Mrs Spelman's expenses claims is particularly embarrassing for Tory leader David Cameron because he has given her a role in overseeing the propriety of the use of public funds by other MPs and MEPs.