Labour MPs told to check expenses

A new expenses row has engulfed Scottish Labour

The Labour Party is to order all of its Scottish MPs to "interrogate their books" after more allegations surfaced about wrongly claimed office expenses.

A letter from the national party office in London will be sent to all 56 Scottish Labour MPs on Monday asking them to ensure that they are complying with parliamentary rules.

The move comes after it was alleged that two MPs were claiming full rent on their constituency offices while sub-letting space to local Labour MSPs.

It was also alleged that the House of Commons and Scottish Parliament were each charged a full month's rent for an office in Stirling.

Eastwood MP Jim Murphy is involved

Last month, Henry McLeish resigned as first minister of Scotland after controversy over the sub-letting of his constituency office.

Opposition parties are now calling on Holyrood and Westminster to launch official probes into the latest matter.

On Sunday, the News of the World newspaper alleged that Eastwood MP Jim Murphy sub-let office space to local MSP Ken Macintosh while claiming full rent from Westminster.

The paper also alleged that Dumfries MP Russell Brown was claiming full rent for his constituency office while sub-letting space to local Labour MSP Elaine Murray.

Its third allegation centred on the office shared by Stirling MP Anne McGuire and local MSP Sylvia Jackson.

The paper said that rent for one month had been charged to the fees offices at Holyrood and Westminster.

Ms McGuire said she had an official office share agreement with the MSP which was registered at Westminster and Holyrood.

Accounts plea

The allegations have now prompted the Labour Party to write to all of its Scottish MPs.

A spokesman for the party said all MPs north of the border would be asked to "interrogate their books and see if this situation arises anywhere else".

He said a letter containing the request would be sent out from the national party office in London on Monday.

It is utterly incredible that Russell Brown can carry on as a member of the Westminster standards committee where he was presumably prepared to sit in judgement on other MPs for similar offences

Pete Wishart, SNP

The spokesman added: "Conversations have taken place on the way of helping MPs to better manage their accounts.

"But clearly this is a new situation and we are asking them to go back and look at their accounts."

The latest developments have led to opposition parties calling for inquiries north and south of the border to clarify the extent of any discrepancies.

The SNP's Westminster chief whip, Pete Wishart, said he would refer all three Labour MPs involved to the Standards Commissioner, Elizabeth Filkin.

He said: "If overclaiming on Westminster office expenses was a big enough offence to topple a first minister, then the consequences for Jim Murphy, Russell Brown and Anne McGuire are extremely serious."

'Full investigations'

Mr Wishart said Mr Murphy should be "considering his position" as parliamentary aide to Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell.

He added: "It is utterly incredible that Russell Brown can carry on as a member of the Westminster standards committee where he was presumably prepared to sit in judgement on other MPs for similar offences."

Scottish Conservative Leader David McLetchie said: "Once again Scottish Labour has dragged politics into the mire.

David McLetchie: "Full facts"

"We have to find out whether this is serial muddling or an orchestra of fiddlers.

"Scottish Labour stands accused of having more fiddlers than the national Mod (music festival)."

He added: "Full investigations must be carried out by both the Scottish Parliament standards committee and the Westminster standards and privileges committee.

"Our corporate body has a duty to ensure the full facts are disclosed and when this is done if anyone is found to have acted fraudulently then they must resign."