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Detectives examining complaints about MPs' expenses are to seek a meeting in the Commons with officials from the Parliamentary fees office.
Commons officials are to be asked by police for an explanation of the rules governing MPs' expenses. The move is part of an exercise to help Scotland Yard's fraud squad decide on whether to launch a full-scale inquiry.
Today the Standard can reveal that police are focusing on more than 10 MPs. The Met has received more than 100 complaints about expenses.
At least 14 ministers are also facing serious questions about their tax affairs after it emerged they employed private accountants.
Only a handful of ministers have admitted paying the tax owed on financial advice paid by the public purse. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has failed to respond to question over their own detailed tax payments.
The initial police investigations are believed to be focusing on former environment minister Elliot Morley, who claimed £16,000 in expenses over 18 months for a mortgage that had been paid off; and David Chaytor, who claimed £13,000 “in error” for a home loan that had also been repaid.
Cabinet ministers Alistair Darling and Geoff Hoon and Labour peer Baroness Uddin are also said to be the subject of complaints. Mr Darling has come under fire for changing the designation of his second home and claiming back more than £3,000 in stamp duty and legal fees. Mr Hoon has also been criticised for maximising his allowances by changing his second home designation.
Police are examining an earlier complaint about Employment Minister Tony McNulty, who claimed £60,000 or a house in which his parents live.
Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, have set up a panel to assess if MPs should face a criminal investigation.
Inquiries have been carried out by a team led by acting commander Nigel Mawer. Police say it is crucial to establish details of the arrangements between the fees office and MPs.
One senior Yard source said: “On the face of it there would appear to be cases of fraud but the difficulty we face is we have to prove a criminal intent and we have to understand the relationship between the fees office and MPs.”
Police could ask for documents relating to the rules and even details of individual MPs' expense claims.
Officers are keen to ensure co-operation from Commons authorities, mindful of the Damian Green controversy.
Among those who face possible questioning is civil servant Andrew Walker, who has run the fees office since 1977 but has been criticised for being too cosy with MPs.
Today, the former head of the fees office, told BBC Radio 4's The Report programme that many recent claims would never have got past him.
After initial inquiries police believe the allegations fall into three categories. Firstly they believe some MPs will be proved blameless, secondly there will be MPs who appear to have broken Commons rules on claiming expenses and thirdly there will be a small group who, on the face of it, appear to have broken the law and committed fraud.
Scotland Yard sources say the difficulty police face is that officials in the Commons fees office appear to have regularly allowed questionable expenses claims to be paid.
A police source said: “There is no question the fees office has done anything wrong. This is purely to establish the ground rules that MPs were operating under. We need to know how the system works.”
Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted today that he had “honoured my tax liabilities in connection with this and paid in full”.
Reader views (18)
I wish I could trust the police, it is my experience they do more for ciminals than the CPS and human rights legislation combined. The Police are a political tool rather than servants of the public
- Graham, Cornwall, 29/05/2009 21:29
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All who did not pay CGT, claimed interest for loans paid off, and claimed rent when not using the property should face trial by Revenue and Court. The 'in the rules' pretence is untrue. It has to be exclusively for their job as an MP, and beyond reproach. A room in Peckham in a house owned by your sister can not be Smith's 'Main residence'. Especially when you and your family live in a large house in the country. Balls and Cooper live in a large house in London where their children go to school. That can not be their second home. All should be investigated fully like they do to UK citizens.
- Ron, Bradford uk, 29/05/2009 10:02
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The Banks are very grateful for the trillions passed onto them by current and future taxpayers but they can't believe all this fuss over an 80p bathplug.
Just put it on the bill and get on with it.
- Diogenes Sinope, City, London, 28/05/2009 17:45
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That is an encouraging start to cleaning up the system. Just one or two big ones put away for a spell will do. Any suggestions of names to be put on the list?
- Albert Hall, hove england, 28/05/2009 17:14
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Long live the Freedom Of Information Act..And never forget Elizabeth Filkin,in 2001 she tried to stop the sleaze
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england, 28/05/2009 16:58
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How can people demand a general election until this entire mess is cleaned up? having an election will return the Tories to power, probably with a big majority, they will then sweep it all under the carpet and normal service will be resumed, i.e. the Tories will be pigging out on the rest of us as they have always done.
Clean the stables first, change the whole rotten edifice, PR, Transparancy, fixed terms, independent scrutiny, an elected second chamber, A cap on donors etc then have an election.
I'd support that, anything else is fakery and gerrymandering. My local MP has never been seen in public here, he did reply to a letter or two I've sent him over the years, but that's his job. He claims for a second home even though it is 19 mins by train to Victoria, He is one of the better ones and still a typical Tory chancer. Sure this Government is bad, but I don't want it replaced with something even worse.
- Kerry, Purley, 28/05/2009 16:17
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The police say they have to prove "intent" but since when has "I didn't mean to do it" been a valid excuse for criminal action. If the Met want to prove they are not in Labour's pockets, they must to be seen to act in the same way as they would with a member of the public.
- Carole Chapman, corridonia italy, 28/05/2009 16:05
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I guess we know now why MPs were so reluctant to build new prisons over the years. Let's hope they enjoy the accommodation at Her Majesty's Pleasure!
- Joon, Streatham, South London, 28/05/2009 15:56
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It seems that a special police Fraud Squad should be funded and set up to vigorously investigate and prosecute these rotten criminal rogues who, for many many years, have pompously lectured us on lawbreaking etc etc.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England., 28/05/2009 15:54
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We need an election. Gordon Brown is not clean on this as he gave £6,000 to his brother for cleaning that is pure nepotism. My MP Gove has been found out on £7,000 and what about the rest? He recieves £10,000.00 for ccomunications allowance yet I have never recieved a Brochure and certainly no warning about his recent meeting about expenses though I have been emailing him on various matters. The meeting was packed to the door with loyal and fawning supporters for TV. How can these men and women focus on the huge problem allowance ms facing britain when they are going to be undetaking serious investigations and advice on how to best answer the investigation. They must all submit themselves to an election and the Queen needs to act. This is not just one person who is affected, its the whole Government that is blighted. Even Mp's that have done nothing by association look bad. Phone write email your MP and demand an Election. Also get your friends to do the same. In other words frighten the horses.
- Peter, Camberley UK, 28/05/2009 15:25
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Here's a thought. We are all jumping up and down about second home allowances etc, but please put it in perspective. If every MP stayed in a budget hotel, you could get a room for a night in the Euston - Kings Cross area at the normal rate of around £75.00. Last time I was in London for the rugby, my wife went to see a show, it cost us roughly £30 per head for an adequate meal at night. Add on breakfast at say £7 for continental and the cost totals £112 per night. Multiply by 4 nights a week, because Friday would appear to be poets day in parliament ( p**s of early tomorrows Saturday.)equals £448 per week, multiplied by 52 weeks equals £23296. Not far off second home allowance is it. Now I am not saying that all MP's stay four nights a week, but even at two nights per week then that is £12K ish. On top of this you would have travel expenses to and from Westminster, I'm guessing £25 per week would cover that, so thats another £1300 per year, plus travel to and from constituency, I have no idea of this cost but I hope you begin to get the picture. What the above does not take into account is the Capital gains made on second properties, but it could be argued that money invested in a second home could have been invested elsewhare earnig a similar return,still leaving us to pick up the accomodation bill.
The only thing that really needs investigation are those expenses claimed for items that were not necessary for an MP to carry out his duties, and a system of employing staff.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 28/05/2009 15:05
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It would appear from the advice given to MPs by those in the fees office that the officials are as corrupt as the MPs making the obscene claims. They have turned a blind eye to "flipping" and "double dipping" and have approved claims for non-existent mortgages, patio heaters, sinks, bath plugs - even pornographic films. They too must be questioned by police and brought to justice.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 28/05/2009 13:36
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Police investigation? Don't make me laugh, none of these MP crooks is ever going to be charged.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 28/05/2009 13:30
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This picture looks like something from the "WILD WEST" ..... WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE?.
The trouble is they are in deep trouble now that the bubble has burst?.
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, the best bit of Government Legislation for years, now lets go into Brussels and board there "GRAVY TRAIN" and see how that can hit the buffers?.
- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K., 28/05/2009 11:27
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Scotland yards finest slowly move in
"..Firstly they believe some MPs will be proved blameless, secondly there will be MPs who appear to have broken Commons rules on claiming expenses and thirdly there will be a small group who, on the face of it, appear to have broken the law and committed fraud..."
Note the old Turkey commons rules and broken the law. Fraud is an act of deception one is the same as the other I would have thought if you have broken commons rules and made false claims you have committed Fraud a criminal offence in public office. If the cleaner stole the petty cash the police would already have locked her up. Double standards?
- Gary, brentwood, 28/05/2009 11:11
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Hopefully we will see a rise in both prision numbers and tax avoidance fines as a result.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties, 28/05/2009 11:09
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If you are innocent, then you have nothing to hide!
Oh, how MP's must be regretting that Jacqui Smith allowed police to pursue Damian Green under the pretence of him having access to information that was a threat to national security!
As part of their activity, the police were given access to the Palace of Westminster and so a precedent was set. Now they will once again be entering Parliament but this time in pursuit of other MPs including members of the Labour Party!
Not quite what Ms. Jacqui had in mind when she started the process of police being used for political ends.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 28/05/2009 11:06
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What can never happen is that it becomes one Law for the People and another for the Political Class.
- Ian, Reading, England, 28/05/2009 10:47
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