THE scandal over MPs expenses has finally caught up with the Member for Ilford North Lee Scott who has been told that he may have to sack his wife.

Mr Scott whose constituency covers the Bridge and Roding wards of Woodford Green was first elected in 2005 when he ruled out the idea of buying a second home - unlike many of his neighbouring MPs.

He has been largely unaffected by the widespread condemnation of MPs expenses but he has employed his wife Estelle as his senior secretary since he was elected.

Now Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, who is charged with restoring public confidence in Parliament has recommended that MPs be barred from employing their spouses.

Mr Scott said: "Employing spouses will cease in five years time as per the Kelly review and if I am honoured to be re-elected then that will be what happens. The truth is I have said from the word 'go' I will abide by the Kelly review so it's almost immaterial. In fact, this is the one single thing to come from the Kelly review that affects me.

“Let me make clear that I pay her, quite on purpose, way below the average so I would be clear from any criticism. In fact I'm told that I have the lowest-paid secretary in Parliament. I made it clear before I was elected that I employed my wife throughout my working career and would continue to do so.

“I made numerous pledges before I was elected. I said I wouldn't take a second home as I didn't believe it was right, I would not take a foreign trip on the taxpayer's expense unless I was honoured with becoming a minister. I have not taken one foreign trip on the taxpayer's expense since I was elected.

“If that's the rule, that's the rule. It wasn't the rule when I started but if that becomes the rule in 2015 then I'll abide by it.”