MPs to escape investigations over alleged expenses abuse after paperwork ‘destroyed’

House of Commons officials have destroyed all evidence of MPs expenses claims prior to 2010, which means the end of official investigations into scandal.

MPs accused of abusing parliamentary expenses will be harder to investigate under a new system after House of Commons officials “destroyed” paperwork relating to their claims, it has been revealed.

John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, faces accusations that he has presided over a fresh cover-up of MPs’ expenses after tens of thousands of pieces of paperwork relating to claims made before 2010 under the scandal-hit regime were shredded the Daily Telegraph reported.

Members of the public who have written to Kathryn Hudson, the standards watchdog, to raise concerns about their MP’s claims have been told there can be no investigation due to lack of evidence.

Under the House of Commons’ “Authorised Records Disposal Practice”, which is overseen by Mr Bercow’s committee, records of MPs’ expenses claims are destroyed after three years. The move is necessary to comply with data protection laws, a Commons spokesman said.