The new parliamentary standards commissioner, Philip Mawer, as already received complaints against Charles Kennedy and Peter Mandelson.

Both men have dismissed the complaints, lodged by former Conservative MP Ian Bruce.

He alleges that Mandelson stayed rent free in the London house of Labour MP for St Helens South, Shaun Woodward.

He also calls for an inqury into grants received by the former minister from the Joseph Rowntree Trust.