Police to investigate MPs' expenses

Scotland Yard said a joint assessment panel of senior detectives and prosecutors had decided full inquiries were necessary.

The police inquiries were expected to focus on politicians accused of deliberately misleading the authorities or claiming "phantom mortgages".

The investigation will be conducted by officers from the Met's Economic and Specialist Crime Command, overseen by Temporary Assistant Commissioner Janet Williams. It is understood the joint panel of experts will continue to consider a small number of other individuals.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "After consideration by the joint Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service assessment panel the Met has decided to launch an investigation into the alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers."

Scotland Yard declined to name the MPs or peers at the centre of the police inquiries or their political allegiance.

But it is widely known that those at the centre of the initial probe were linked to so-called "phantom mortgages".

Labour MPs David Chaytor and Elliot Morley both announced they would stand down after it emerged they claimed interest payments for paid-off mortgages.

Two other MPs, Ben Chapman and Bill Wiggin, may also face further inquiries after they were exposed as claiming for mortgages that did not exist.

Baroness Uddin, who apparently claimed an empty Maidstone flat was her main home so she could claim expenses for peers living outside the capital, may also face questions.