Complaint over Smith's housing claim

(Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Westminster's sleaze watchdog has received a complaint over the way in which the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, claimed more than £116,000 in allowances for a second home while lodging with her sister.

The Home Secretary was able to receive the allowance for her family home in her Redditch constituency because she listed her sister's property, where she stays while in London, as her main home.

Harry Cole, from the Centre for Open Politics, a little-known group which campaigns for political transparency, made the complaint to the Standards Commissioner, John Lyons. It claims that Ms Smith has a "prima facie case to answer".

Ms Smith's office insisted she has had "long-standing written approval" from the Parliamentary Fees Office for her accommodation claims.