George Osborne is being investigated over expenses claims.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, is being investigated by parliament's standards watchdog over his expenses, it emerged today.

John Lyon, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, confirmed that he is investigating a complaint relating to the way Osborne claimed for a mortgage worth ?450,000, which he used to fund a house that cost ?445,000.

A spokesman for the commissioner would not discuss details of the complaint, which was submitted by a Labour activist.

But, in a letter to Laurie Burton, the chair of the local Labour party in Osborne's Tatton constituency, Lyon said: "I have accepted your complaint and am inviting [Osborne's] comments."

In his letter, Lyon said he would look into a claim that "Mr Osborne claimed for mortgage …