LABOUR MP David Chaytor has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party pending a watchdog investigation into his expenses, Downing Street announced today.

Chief Whip Nick Brown took the decision after speaking to Mr Chaytor about a £13,000 claim, which he has said he will repay, for mortgage interest on a loan which had already been paid off.

The Bury North MP referred the matter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards himself after disclosures about the payments in The Daily Telegraph.

He blamed an "unforgivable error in my accounting procedures for which I apologise unreservedly" for the claim.