Kelly inquiry to target MPs’ family jobs

Sleazebuster Sir Christopher Kelly, appointed by Gordon Brown to come up with proposals for clearing out the Commons stables, is expected to call a complete halt to one expenses scam at Westminster - the employment of partners and children by MPs to boost their family incomes.

Four Labour MPs - Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Margaret Moran and Ian Gibson - face the threat of expulsion today as their cases go before Labour's 'Star Chamber' for review. But the next big expenses scandal is likely to involve more disclosures about the hiring of members of the family by MPs without so much as a job interview with more qualified staff.

Sources close to the Kelly inquiry have told the Mole that Kelly is taking "a dim view" of the use of family members by MPs to boost their incomes without any competition. The practice is not even allowed by the European Parliament, notorious for its gravy train.

Harriet Harman, Leader of the House, has said: "It is quite hard for the public to accept that there has been fair and open competition for what is an important job if the person doing that job is a spouse. And that is a discussion we are going to have."

The Daily Telegraph has found that some MPs have been able to claim expenses for their main home as well as their second home because their spouse works from home on Parliamentary business. Commons Fees Office staff say that some MPs have claimed up to £40,000 for family members to 'run' their offices while paying much smaller sums to their staff at Westminster.

It will be difficult to force MPs to let go of the 'spouse' scam. More than 200 MPs employ members of their own families at the taxpayers' expense, including members of the Cabinet. As well as claiming for his porn videos, Richard Timney, husband of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, is employed as her parliamentary adviser on a salary of £40,000 a year. ·