Tory Chairman to face sleaze probe

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Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon said the "exceptional" circumstances meant a full inquiry should take place.

A statement from his office said: "Having carefully considered the matter, the Commissioner has recommended to the (Standards and Privileges) Committee that exceptionally he should conduct an inquiry. The Committee has accepted that recommendation."

It emerged earlier this month that the Meriden MP paid Tina Haynes to look after her children and do secretarial work for a "short term period" after her election to Parliament, between 1997 and 1998.

However, it emerged last weekend that Ms Haynes in fact remained on the public payroll for almost two years, from April 1997 to March 1999.

The nanny is also thought to have lived at Ms Spelman's family home in Kent for some of the time - more than 140 miles from her West Midlands constituency.

Ms Spelman insists she did nothing wrong in employing Ms Haynes. She says the nanny was doing administrative work at her home - which she was using as her constituency office - as well as providing childcare services outside school hours.

The arrangement was ended after she consulted the then Tory Chief Whip James Arbuthnot - although the party has insisted both sides were convinced she had not broken any rules.

After the story broke, Ms Spelman held a meeting with Mr Lyon on June 9 and asked him to investigate in a bid to clear her name.

Ms Spelman said later: "Having personally referred this matter to the Commissioner in the first place, I welcome his decision to look at it further and will of course co-operate in every way."