A parliamentary watchdog will investigate expense claims by George Osborne, finance spokesman for Britain's opposition Conservatives, an official said today.
A scandal over parliamentary expense claims has affected politicians from all major parties and has ended the careers of some MPs.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon "has accepted a complaint about Mr Osborne", a spokeswoman said.
She said the complaint related to Osborne's expenses but declined to give details.
The complaint was filed by Laurie Burton, chair of the ruling Labour Party in Osborne's Cheshire constituency in northwest England.
The Guardian newspaper's website quoted from a letter Mr Lyon sent to Burton saying he would investigate an allegation that Osborne had claimed for mortgage payments that were "not necessarily incurred".
Mr Osborne is favourite to become finance minister if the Conservatives win an election due within the next year, as appears likely.
A spokesman for Osborne said the complaint was "a political complaint by the local Labour party".
"George is relaxed about it and has always been very open in answering questions about his expenses," he said.
Lyon reports his findings to a parliamentary committee. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, the committee can order expenses to be repaid or take other sanctions including suspending a member from parliament.
The Times newspaper reported last month that Osborne had funded the purchase of a farmhouse in Cheshire in 2000 by increasing borrowing on his London home.
He later designated the London house as his "second home", even though it was his main residence, so he could claim the mortgage interest payments on expenses, The Times said.
Mr Osborne's spokesman said he had never switched the designation of his second home for personal advantage and denied any impropriety.
Reuters