Former Labour minister Elliot Morley has admitted dishonestly claiming more than £30,000 in parliamentary expenses.
He was accused of claiming £15,200 more than he was entitled to in mortgage claims and of submitting £16,800 in claims even though he had paid off the mortgage.
Morley is the fourth former MP to appear in court for fiddling their parliamentary allowances and is likely to face time in jail – he will be sentenced on May 16.
Former Labour MPs Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Eric Illsley are all serving time in prison as a result of the 2009 expenses scandal.
Morley served the Blair government as a minister in the various environment departments for nine years from 1997 until 2005. He stood down from Parliament in 2010.
Today the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) revealed MPs were paid £3.2m in expenses over November and December of last year.
In total 26,500 claims were made during the last two months of 2010.
£9,998-worth of claims submitted by 44 MPs were refused by the watchdog.
Among the rejected claims was one by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who had a bill for a TV film turned down.
"A quick investigation showed that unbeknownst to me, my daughters had purchased an on-demand film - Sherlock Holmes," he said.
"Ipsa were right to reject £3.95 for the film and I should have taken a closer look at the bill.
"My children have assured me that if they purchase on-demand films again, they'll let me know so that I don't unwittingly put the claim through."
Ipsa recently revised the rules governing parliamentary expense claims in the face of heavy criticism from MPs.
Last month significant changes were made to allow more spending on accommodation, travel and staff, following concerns that the expenses regime was "anti-family" and too bureaucratic.
Responsibility for policing MPs expense claims was handed to the independent body following the general election in order to stop abuses.
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