MPS REFERRED TO CPS OVER EXPENSES
Detectives have sent four files of evidence relating to parliamentary expenses to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police have said.In a statement, they added: "The files relate to four people, from both the House of Lords and the House of Commons and will now be subject to CPS consideration on whether there should be any charges.

"A small number of cases remain under investigation."

The CPS told Sky News it will make a decision on whether to prosecute "as quickly as is reasonably possible".

Sky's political editor Adam Boulton said: "We knew the police were looking at up to half a dozen cases at both ends of the Houses of Parliament.

"Now have confirmation from Scotland Yard that they have passed on four cases to the CPS.

"What this means is the police think they could be a case for a prosecution.

"But that has to be reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, and his assistant."

In June Scotland Yard began several inquiries into allegations that politicians abused their expenses and allowances.

Police focused on individuals who claimed so-called "phantom mortgages".

Among them is former Labour minister Elliot Morley, who claimed £16,000 interest payments on a property where the loan was already paid off.

Other politicians believed to be under police investigation include Labour MPs David Chaytor and Jim Devine, peers Baroness Uddin, Lord Hanningfield and Lord Clarke of Hampstead.

Bury North MP Mr Chaytor claimed £13,000 for a mortgage he had paid off. He has since confessed to an "unforgivable error".

Baroness Uddin faced claims that she said an empty flat in Maidstone, Kent, was her main home so she could receive expenses for peers based outside the capital.

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Last Updated: 2009-11-23 16:26:37

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