AN INVESTIGATION into the expenses of one of the borough s MPs was abandoned after it was found that a letter of complaint was fictitious, writes Andrew McCorkell. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said an objection claiming that Brent East Lib

AN INVESTIGATION into the expenses of one of the borough's MPs was abandoned after it was found that a letter of complaint was fictitious, writes Andrew McCorkell.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said an objection claiming that Brent East Lib Dem MP, Sarah Teather sub-let her constituency office in Willesden, to her party while the taxpayer was left to pick up the bill was not genuine.

A follow-up letter from the complainant included a returning address that was almost identical to that of an employee of Labour MP for Brent South, Dawn Butler, who is also Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement.

The commissioner also said he discontinued the inquiry because he had no grounds for believing that claims Ms Teather made from parliamentary funds for her office provided support to the cost of the Lib Dem party.

A letter to Ms Teather from the commissioner said: "I have been in contact with the person who purportedly made the complaint.

"I have satisfied myself as to his identity. He has stated that he did not make a complaint against you."

As the complaint was made, Ms Teather, who was famed for not claiming a penny during the expenses scandal, strenuously denied the allegations.

Brent Liberal Democrats said the party made contributions over and above its usage of the office, as approved by the Commons, calculated by a surveyor and agreed with a solicitor.

Chris Leaman, Brent councillor and the Lib Dem London campaign manager, said: "It seems a strange coincidence that the first letter was written by someone who now says they have never made a complaint about Sarah Teather and did not write the original letter.

"Many people will be wondering why the second letter is written from an address that does not exist, while a similar address with an identical post code has one person registered at it and that person works for Dawn Butler.

"Dawn Butler must take immediate action and reveal the full facts if any person employed by her has been involved in this smear campaign against Sarah."

Ms Butler said: "The public has a right to know whether Sarah sub-let her office and whether she was funded from public funds."

andrew.mccorkell@archant.co.uk