Yard moves step closer to MP quiz
POLICE reviewing complaints about MPs’ expenses are to meet staff from the Commons fees office.
The move is an “essential step” in the Scotland Yard “scoping” operation – police jargon for a review – which could lead to criminal charges.
Detectives will ask the fees office how the system of MPs’ expenses operates. They will particularly want to know of any changes in how expenses were claimed over the past two decades.
It is understood the system was stricter during the premiership of Sir John Major from 1990 and became less so after New Labour’s victory.
Police said there was no question of officers “entering” the Commons or seizing any documents.
They also dismissed reports that the Yard has a “hit list” of 10 MPs including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
A key member of the Yard team is Acting Commander Nigel Mawer who led the painstaking investigation into allegations of wrongdoing surrounding donors to the main political parties.
A source said he was “a veteran of inquiries involving politicians and the world in which they operate.” A Yard spokesman said: “It’s important that we understand the Parliamentary processes.”
