The police investigation into alleged expenses abuses by MPs and Lords has so far cost the taxpayer more than £500,000, the Metropolitan Police has disclosed.

Police have begun an investigation into the expenses claims of Labour MP Harry Cohen who was paid more than £70,000 in a second home allowance for a house he rarely visited

The police bodyguards who protect Tony Blair during his holidays and international business trips cost the public £250,000 a year in expenses, it has emerged.

Police have been urged to reopen a prosecution into the expenses cheat peer who was this week suspended from the House of Lords after illegitimately claiming £125,000 in parliamentary allowances.

The police probe into alleged expenses abuses has so far cost the taxpayer more than £500,000, Scotland Yard says.

• Commons authorities discuss asking Met to find leaker • Disk containing records 'was offered to papers for £300,000' House of Commons officials have today discussed calling in the police to hunt down the mole who leaked details of MPs expenses, the Guardian has learned. A statement from the Commons authorities is expected this afternoon. A decision to call in the police...

The Metropolitan Police has begun a criminal inquiry into Harry Cohen after he claimed more than £70,000 for a "second home" while renting out his main property.

A CONSERVATIVE peer alleged yesterday that a police investigation into his expenses claims of almost £100,000 for overnight stays in London had been sparked by a political ven

Home secretary forced to defend parliamentarians' allowances in comments to Police Federation Frontline police officers today accused MPs of enjoying expenses that would not look out of place in a "third world dictatorship". Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, was hauled over the coals by members of the Police Federation of England and Wales. She was forced to defend expenses and allowances for...

The parliamentary authorities reacted to damaging revelations of cabinet and junior ministers cynically exploiting Commons expenses rules by calling in the police to investigate how the details were leaked and by whom. The involvement of the police, and the prospect of a full-scale criminal inquiry, came as fresh disclosures emerged of expenses claims made by middle-ranking ministers for items as ...