Conservative MP Chris Davies quizzed by Scotland Yard over alleged expenses fraud

A former member of Theresa May's Government was questioned by Scotland Yard detectives this week over expenses fraud allegations, it has emerged.

Chris Davies MP, a former Parliamentary Private Secretary to ministers in the Wales Office, is under investigation for two claims worth £700 he made in 2016 for furniture and photographs in his constituency office.

The MP – who was only elected in 2015 – was interviewed under caution by Metropolitan Police officers on Tuesday this week, July 17.

Mr Davies was named as a PPS - which is an unpaid position - by the Government in January, but was left off the latest list published last month after the allegations emerged.

Andy McDonald, Ipsa’s compliance officer, disclosed on Friday that he had referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police, adding: “The police investigation is currently ongoing.”

A complaint was made to the Conservative Party in March and was passed to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in the following month.

Mr Davies told the BBC in April this year that he had made “an honest mistake" by claiming for furniture and pictures for his constituency office.

Mr Davies, who has represented Brecon and Radnorshire since 2015, said he had repaid £450 after being asked to do so by Ipsa.

He attributed the claim to "my inexperience of the Ipsa code" and insisted he had never claimed for something he was not entitled to.

He accepted he manually created two invoices in a claim for expenses which he should have entered online, but insists the information had been in the public domain for two years.

"I've apologised for getting the code wrong. I've done nothing wrong whatsoever and I want to clear my name and deal with this," he said.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said it was investigating “an allegation of fraudulent expense claims submitted by an individual. 

“The Special Enquiry Team launched an investigation in June 2018. A 50-year-old man was voluntarily interviewed under caution on Tuesday, 17 July 2018. Enquiries continue.”

Mr Davies, 50, told MailOnline he was cooperating with the investigation. "I am looking forward to having this resolved," he said.

A 10 Downing Street spokesman referred questions to Conservative Central Office. The Conservative Party was approached for comment.