Decision day on MP charges in storm over expenses

On another uncomfortable day at Westminster yesterday, it was revealed that MPs cost more than 95m in allowances and expenses last year – including spending on second homes, running offices, travel and communications – with Leeds North East's Fabian Hamilton Yorkshire's most expensive politician.

Following Sir Thomas Legg's review of all parliamentary claims in the past five years, more than half the region's MPs have been ordered to pay back a total of 100,000.

Former MPs have also become embroiled in the crisis, including former Sheffield Hillsborough MP Helen Jackson. She was accused by Sir Thomas of charging taxpayers 6,500 for a new central heating system at her second home two months before she stood down from Parliament.

Ms Jackson has repaid the money but insists that she had agreed to the work "long before".

Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell was the biggest victim of the Legg review, although he has already repaid more than 10,000 which he was overpaid in claims for mortgage interest.

Today the spotlight will be on the Crown Prosecution Service, which will announce whether it is pressing charges against any MPs or peers who have been investigated by police.

Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley, who has already repaid 36,000 relating to mortgage claims, is among those who have been in the spotlight after he admitted claiming for a mortgage which had already been paid off.

Publishing his report yesterday, Sir Thomas, a former senior civil servant, criticised the "vague" rules under the "deeply flawed" expenses regime – but faced fierce criticism himself after more than 40 MPs won appeals against his verdicts.

Retiring Keighley MP Ann Cryer won her appeal against paying back more than 16,000 paid in rent to her son-in-law, while fellow Labour backbencher Colin Challen, MP for Morley and Rothwell, had his repayment cut by nearly 9,000.

Senior Labour backbencher Barry Sheerman criticised Sir Thomas as "inefficient" and George Mudie, a Government whip, said the former mandarin had "spoiled" a largely good job by being subjective and applying rules retrospectively.

Most MPs asked to repay have already done so but several have yet to respond and face having it taken out of their salaries if they have not done so by February 22.

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh has to repay 5,026.84 in overpayments on mortgage interest and mobile phone bills for which MPs cannot claim, while Bradford South MP and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe must return 2,786.14 for the same reasons.

Former Europe Minister Denis MacShane, MP for Rotherham, has been warned he will have to find another 6,001 if he does not produce mortgage statements covering two years by March 1.

In total, Yorkshire MPs will have repaid more than 108,000 in expenses claimed on their second homes, including more than 8,000 repaid by Yorkshire Minister Rosie Winterton over payments included for mortgage capital, which cannot be claimed for.

Sir Thomas recommended 390 MPs should repay 1.3m of "invalid" claims. However, 44 MPs won at least part of their appeal, cutting the final amount to 1.12m.