Speaker urges MPs to repay expenses

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Mr Bercow dismissed complaints about retrospective caps set down by Sir Thomas Legg's review and said colleagues had to take the consequences of "demonstrably wrong or extravagant" claims.

His demand came as it emerged HM Revenue and Customs are investigating whether 27 MPs broke tax law and it was suggested at least one MP could face criminal charges over the expenses scandal.

As the controversy continued to dominate Westminster affairs, the wife of one Tory MP also raised the prospect of legal action if an impending shake-up bars her from working for her husband.

In an interview for BBC Radio 4's The Week In Westminster, Mr Bercow defended the Legg review which has caused near-open revolt among MPs.

Critics say it is unfair to ask them to repay money claimed for cleaning and gardening when no caps were written into the rules, but Mr Bercow said that was "absurd". "Some limits must have been implicit," he said.

"The public has to see and be satisfied that we have got the message that there is public displeasure, that the process has to be changed and there there must be consequences for past claims if they can be shown to be demonstrably wrong or extravagant."

He went on: "If there are specific repayments that are expected by the Legg team, my strong expectation is that these payments will be made."

As multiple investigations of the pay and perks scandal continued, the Daily Mail said detectives believed they had sufficient evidence against Labour former minister Elliot Morley to send a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. Scotland Yard announced in June that it was launching full inquiries into several MPs and peers, understood to include Mr Morley who claimed £16,000 for a non-existent mortgage.

The Metropolitan Police would not comment on the report which came days after Home Secretary Alan Johnson failed to rule out the possibility of MPs going to jail.