Police investigating MPs over expenses

LONDON, June 20 (UPI) -- Some members of the British Parliament will face a criminal investigation into their expense claims, Scotland Yard announced Friday.

In a statement released in late afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said the investigation would involve a "small number" of legislators, The Guardian reported. Police sources said likely targets included legislators who were reimbursed for interest payments on mortgages that had been paid off.

"After consideration by the joint Metropolitan police and Crown Prosecution Service assessment panel, the Met has decided to launch an investigation into the alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers," the statement said.

The scandal has involved members of both Labor and Conservative parties, but Labor appears to get more blame from the public. Many expense claims were within rules that allow members of Parliament to be reimbursed for expenses in maintaining a second home, either in London or in their constituency, but others appear to have gone beyond the rules.