Two MPs being investigated in criminal expenses inquiry

Scotland Yard is investigating two cases involving sitting MPs on the suspicion that they have committed criminal offences

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority referred the cases to the Met Police in March (Corbis)

Police are investigating two MPs over their taxpayer-funded expenses.

A Met Police spokesman has confirmed that it is investigating two cases referred to it by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - which oversees MPs' expenses - in March this year.

Scotland Yard has said the two cases involve sitting MPs on the suspicion that they have committed criminal offences, according to the Evening Standard.

The Met Police said a third case was also referred to it in March, which resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an MP's aide, receiving a caution for fraud by false representation.

No further details have been given about the MPs or their identities by the police or IPSA.

The police referals were revealed in IPSA's annual report for 2014-15, which was published yesterday.

In it, compliance officer Peter Davis said: “I have felt it necessary for the first time during my term of office to refer requests for investigation received from IPSA to the Police.

“Three cases have been forwarded to the Metropolitan Police for assessment, one has been finalised and two remain with police.”

An agreement between IPSA and the Met Police determines that, where IPSA has “reason to suspect that a criminal offence may have been committed by an MP or member of an MP's staff”, it should notify the Met Police of any suspicions.

IPSA was set up after the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal which caused outrage among members of the public.