Simon Danczuk 'should face fraud probe', Lib Dems say

Simon Danczuk said he checked with IPSA a few years ago and was told the claims were allowed

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk should be investigated for fraud over his expenses claims, a Liberal Democrats representative has said.

In a letter to police, party campaigner David Hennigan said the Labour MP had wrongly claimed £9,700 in expenses for his children to live in London.

Mr Danczuk said he did had done nothing wrong in claiming the allowance.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are looking at the claims.

In the letter to GMP, Mr Hennigan said Mr Danczuk's claims were a "clear abuse of the system", adding that it was "a matter of such seriousness that I believe it warrants a police investigation".

Mr Danczuk said two of his children from his second marriage do visit him in London and his other two, who live in Rochdale, could do so in future.

'Not flexible enough'

"My IPSA claim was made properly and at a time when it was expected all four of my children would regularly come and stay with me at the same time," he said.

"Perhaps IPSA's rules are too vaguely worded and not flexible enough to cope with modern families like mine.

"Any divorced father will tell you that living circumstances can change quickly and there can always be periods when you see your children more often than at other times.

"But it would be irresponsible, and incredibly costly to IPSA, for me to be constantly moving to different flats in London just to accommodate temporary changes in my family life."

He added that Mr Hennigan's "frivolous and politically motivated complaints... are the real waste of taxpayers' money".

IPSA guidance states the allowance is available for an MP whose children "routinely reside" in London.

GMP said it was "currently liaising with IPSA to ascertain who will investigate these allegations", while IPSA said the complaint had been passed to the compliance officer for consideration.

Mr Danczuk was suspended by the Labour Party in December after he admitted sending lewd texts to a 17-year-old girl.

He was also interviewed by police earlier in January in connection with a rape allegation dating from 2006.