3 MP's and a Lord

As expected,Labour's David Chaytor and Jim Devine and Elliot Morley as well as Tory Lord Hanningfield face criminal charges over expenses claims.

Morley is accused of claiming £16,800 for a mortgage that had already been paid off, Morley apologised for what he said was a "genuine mistake" but will be standing down at the next election.

Bury North's Chaytor is also accused of the same and will also be standing down at the next election.

Devine was Robin Cook's election agent and, following his death ,succeeded him as MP for Livingston.He has been charged on six counts of false accounting relating to claiming a total of more than £8,000 for cleaning services and stationery using false invoices.

Lord Hanningfield faces charges on six counts for allegedly claiming overnight expenses he was not entitled to. He has now resigned his position as as shadow business spokesman, and the party has said they have removed the Conservative whip from him.

They have also incurred the wrath of Gordon Brown who told Sky News that he was“very angry about what’s happened.”