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Detectives investigating the complaints about MPs' expenses are to focus on a handful of politicians who may have deliberately misled Commons officials, it can be revealed today.
These include at least four MPs who claimed for phantom mortgages, while a member of the House of Lords could also face a full investigation.
Scotland Yard said most MPs would not face a criminal inquiry. But in a statement with the Crown Prosecution Service today it announced there were "allegations where questions remain".
The Standard understands these involve MPs who claimed for mortgages that were already paid off. Those MPs face a full investigation into their claims.
They include former environment minister Elliot Morley, who claimed £16,000 over 18 months for a mortgage that was paid off, and David Chaytor, who claimed £13,000 "in error" for a home loan that had been repaid. Two others, Ben Chapman and former Conservative frontbencher Bill Wiggin, also made claims for interest on phantom mortgages and could face a full inquiry.
Further questions may also be asked about Baroness Uddin, who apparently claimed an empty property in Maidstone was her main home so she would be entitled to expenses for peers living outside the capital.
Earlier this week Mr Chaytor, Labour MP for Bury North, announced he would step down at the next election, becoming the third Labour MP - after Mr Morley and Mr Chapman - to resign after disclosures over phantom mortgages.
Mr Morley was one of the first casualties when he was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party and then announced he would stand down. He initially blamed his claims on "sloppy accounting".
Fraud detectives also Met officials from the Commons fees office to understand how the expenses system worked, as the Standard reported last month. Investigators are expected to ask officials for full details of the four MPs' specific claims.
Lawyers believe this type of claim may breach the 2007 Fraud Act and the 1968 Theft Act, and so might constitute criminal offences that could result in MPs being imprisoned.
Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, set up a panel to assess more than 100 allegations of misuse of expenses.
In a statement today, they said most MPs appeared to have provided accurate information: "Unless evidence is available which shows individuals deliberately misled the fees office, it is highly unlikely there could be a successful prosecution.
But the statement goes on: "However, there are allegations where questions remain about the probity of the claims which will require further information before decisions regarding investigations could be made."
Reader views (9)
Let the police do its job, but properly this time not the make-over of Tony Blairs time in the frame.
- Albert Hall, hove england, 08/06/2009 10:00
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They should be SACKED. To allow them to remain in office until the next election allows them to continue claiming a salary and obscene expenses for a further year. Those guilty of thieving must be made repay every penny to the public purse.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 08/06/2009 09:10
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If they were put in the nick the sods would still claim expenses
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex, 06/06/2009 12:19
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Making false claims should be punishable both for members of House Commons and House of Lords. Some of these MPs are already standing down and resigning.
Most will be removed by the voters in the next general election.
What about the corrupt Lords and Baronesses who are similarly guilty of decieving the tax payers ?
Shouldn't they be investigated, named and shamed and removed too.
- Hasanat Husain, Woodford, UK, 06/06/2009 10:14
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Al Capone died in Alcatraz. He was not convicted of murder,he was convicted of tax evasion.
- Frank Murray, Bristol UK, 06/06/2009 01:06
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if i was to make a false socisl claim id be prossocuted oh well i guess its ok for mp's to lie lie lie n get off scott free its an outrage the should be behind bars they have commited fraud and should be punished like everyone else ...
- Alli, m34 5ub, 05/06/2009 22:39
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Funny that "sloppy accounting" does not appear to result in an underclaim for expenses.
Just shows the ability of our MPs that they make such juvenile "errors" in their claims.
Also how little they know about the allowability of accountancy fees.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 05/06/2009 17:32
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MPs or not, these people should be charged and made to stand trial for fraud - like anybody else would who'd done what they did...!!! But the way things stand its seems clear they feel answerable to no one but themselves... How can you Brits just go right on letting them get off scot free - as if they were above the law...???
But then, it's hardly any surprise, I suppose - you always were such a craven, servile lot of Wimps...!!! Give me the French, any day...! - if this were across the Channel they'd have this gang of crooked politicians on the run and out of office, tut-suit...!! - before their feet even touched the ground...!!!
- Joanna Jay, Walton on Thames, 05/06/2009 17:31
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Uh oh - maybe there's going to be a few by-elections in the offing.
- Rogan, Irving, 05/06/2009 14:45
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