Baroness Warsi facing inquiry into parliamentary expenses

BARONESS Warsi, a prominent Cabinet minister, was facing an investigation into her parliamentary expenses today amid allegations she claimed for accommodation while staying at a friend’s house rent-free.

The House of Lords Commissioner for Standards, former chief constable Paul Kernaghan, is being asked by Labour MP John Mann to conduct an inquiry into the Tory peer’s claims.

Lady Warsi, the co-chairman of the Conservative Party, was advised by former sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham to stand down from her role as a Cabinet Office minister pending the outcome of any inquiry.

Tory deputy chairman Michael Fallon said only that Lady Warsi “believes” she acted within the rules, but he admitted that the controversy was embarrassing for the party.

The Cabinet minister has insisted she is blameless and made an “appropriate payment” to her friend - Tory official Naweed Khan, who is now one of her aides - for the nights she stayed at the property in Acton, west London.