Outraged ministers deny wrongdoing

It said Mr Hope had spent more than £37,000 on refurbishing and furnishing a modest two-bedroom flat in south London.

The Corby and East Northants MP responded: "The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence"

Mr Bradshaw apparently switched the designation of his second home to a property he shares with his partner in west London.

While the couple initially split the mortgage costs, Exeter MP Mr Bradshaw now claims the entire interest bill on the property - despite owning only half.

Meanwhile, immigration minister Phil Woolas threatened legal action over "disgusting" suggestions that he used parliamentary allowances to buy clothes for his wife, nappies and comics.

Mr Woolas, who has been at the centre of controversy over Gurkhas' residency rules, said he had filed receipts along with claims for groceries at his second home, but did not claim for all the items listed.

"What I have done is put receipts through, but then claimed on the expenses form for the food and not for the other stuff," he said. Mr Woolas said the expenses records being used as a basis for the Daily Telegraph stories were "stolen property".

Ex-Government figures also did not escape scrutiny. Former Europe minister Keith Vaz, who now chairs the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, was said to have bought and furnished a flat in central London with more than £75,000 of public money, despite living just 12 miles away with his wife in a £1.15 million property.

Mr Vaz also changed his designated second home for a single year to a property he owns in his Leicester East constituency. During that period - 2007-08 - he claimed £1,000 for a table and chairs, £750 on new carpets and £2,614 for a pair of leather armchairs.