CAROLINE Spelman, the Conservative Party chairman, looks set to escape an investigation into her allowances after Westminster's standards watchdog said it would be "exceptional" for him to probe a matter from so long ago.
Mrs Spelman referred herself to John Lyon, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, after it emerged that she had paid her nanny, who she said also worked as a constituency secretary, from public funds between 1997 and 1998.
After meeting her, Mr
Lyon said he would be "considering carefully" whether to take the matter further.
But he added: "It would be exceptional for the commissioner to institute an inquiry into matters which go back more than seven years. It would also be exceptional for him to do so on a self-referral."
However, the Committee on Standards and Privileges will be consulted before Mr Lyon makes a final decision.
Ahead of Mr Lyon's statement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, appeared to offer his support to Mrs Spelman. Mr Cameron said he felt that Mrs Spelman's account of the arrangements was "convincing". He added that she had been "absolutely right" to explain her arrangements and also to refer herself to the parliamentary commissioner.
But in another warning to his MPs and MEPs, Mr Cameron insisted that it was no longer enough for politicians merely to abide by the rules.
MPs should only claim expenses that "reasonable" people would agree with, he said.
While the Tory party leader was setting a high standard for his team to meet, activists and MPs have attacked the focus on Mrs Spelman as "sexist" and a "witch-hunt".
Nadine Dorries, a Conservative MP, accused the BBC of left-wing bias, after the broadcaster broke the story about Mrs Spelman's expenses.
She added: "The more terminal the position looks for Labour, the more desperate the BBC and the left-wing press become."
Meanwhile, Louise Bagshawe, an author and parliamentary candidate for the Tories, said Mrs Spelman was being pilloried on "absolutely sexist grounds".
• Labour suffered a fresh opinion poll slump last night as the Conservatives nearly doubled their advantage in a month to lead by 20 points. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown's personal rating hit an historic low, below even the worst level endured by the former Tory leader, Iain Duncan Smith.
Meanwhile, Louise Bagshawe, an author and parliamentary candidate for the Tories, said Mrs Spelman was being pilloried on "absolutely sexist grounds".
"Parliament sits at ludicrous, outdated hours and modest reform has only slightly ameliorated the problem," she said.
"Does the BBC expect Caroline Spelman to be at the House at all hours, and yet refuse to recognise her childcare as a business expense?"
The full article contains 446 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
