Cameron will sack MEPs found to have broken expenses rules

David Cameron will sack any Tory MEPs found to have broken the rules after ordering an investigation into their expenses aimed at quashing public concerns about sleaze.

The Tory leader is said to be worried that his attempts to stamp out rule-breaking at Westminster risk being undermined by the behaviour of some of his party's representatives in the European Parliament.

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Mr Cameron removed the Tory whip from Derek Conway, the MP who paid his two sons from public funds. MEPs who have broken the rules will face a similar fate. They would be unable to stand as Tory candidates at elections to Strasbourg which take place next year. Yesterday three more Tory members – Sir Robert Atkins, Sajjad Karim and John Purvis – were the subject of revelations about their expenses. Last week, the leader and the chief whip of the Tory MEPs lost their positions.

Giles Chichester admitted a "technical breach" after £445,000 was paid to a company of which he was a director. Den Dover was accused of paying £750,000 to a firm run by his wife and daughter. He denies breaking the rules and insists his departure as chief whip was not related to the row over MEPs' expenses.