Sleaze watchdog launches probe into Tony McNulty expenses

LONDON minister Tony McNulty's political future was thrown into doubt today after Westminster's sleaze watchdog launched an inquiry into his expenses.

John Lyon, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, is to investigate the Labour MP's use of nearly £60,000 of taxpayers' money for a second home in Harrow where his parents live.

Harrow East MP Mr McNulty, who is also employment minister, insists he abided by Commons rules.

Mr Lyon will investigate whether his use of the Harrow house meets the criteria for a taxpayer-funded second home. Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has stressed that the additional cost allowance, for second homes, is exclusively to pay for expenses incurred for overnight stays.

Mr McNulty is believed to live with his wife, chief schools inspector Christine Gilbert, in a house in Hammersmith which is just three miles from Westminster.

Gordon Brown has stood by the minister, with Downing Street saying the Prime Minister has "full confidence" in him.

However, he now has two senior MPs, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Mr McNulty, being investigated by the commissioner.

Ms Smith was engulfed in controversy after it emerged that she had declared a house she shares with her sister in London as her "main home" and a property in her Worcestershire constituency, where her family lives, as her second home for expenses' purposes.