Scotland Yard will investigate abuses of expenses

The BBC is reporting that Scotland Yard will investigate some MPs and Peers over their abuses of the expenses system. The Met is refusing to say who is under investigation but the BBC says that it “understands Labour MPs David Chaytor and Elliot Morley are among those under scrutiny” and “that Parliamentary standards inquiries into Mr Chaytor and Mr Morley are on hold while the police continue to consider their cases.” The BBC also thinks that Baroness Uddin may face questions.

It appears that the investigation will be narrowly focused, concentrating on the most egregious cases: any MP who is seriously investigated will already have had their political career effectively ended by the revelations entering the public domain. But the party affiliation of those investigated will obviously have a political impact.