Embarrassment over expenses leak
Updated on 08 May 2009
The police are asked to investigate how information was leaked following revelations over MPs' expenses in the Daily Telegraph.
MPs have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on everything from mattresses and televisions, to gardeners and cleaners.
But there has been no apology after details of their expense claims were made public.
Among them the prime minister, who spent more than £6,500 on cleaning, the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who spent nearly £5,000 on furniture in three months and the Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, who feared his wife would divorce him if his claims for stamp duty and moving costs were not met.
HOME FROM HOME
The real controversy centres on second homes allowance set up to help MPs maintain homes in London and in their constituency.
It is an issue that the prime minister has already tried to reform in recent weeks, only to be condemned by all sides.
DISCUSSION: BROOKE & BELL
Heather Brooke the campaigner who won the High court battle to release MPs expenses and Stuart Bell the Labour MP for Middlesbrough join Jon Snow in the studio to discuss the issue.
