MPs to pay back £1.1m after expenses audit

Criminal charges could be brought

Emily Beattie

The audit of MPs’ expenses claims has put the total amount needed to be repaid at £1.12m, according to Sir Thomas Legg, who conducted the review into claims made between 2004 and 2008.

Prime minister Gordon Brown, who himself has paid back more than £13,000 in claimed expenses, has welcomed the review as ‘a very significant step forward’ to restoring public trust.

The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce whether any charges are to be brought in the most serious cases.

Under the review, 389 politicians have been ordered to repay the £1.12m.

The cost of carrying out the Legg review itself cost £1.2m, just over the amount of money to be repaid under the expenses scandal.