What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Sussex Police today becomes the 20th force in the country to apply to a court for more time to investigate allegations of electoral fraud by Tory MPs .



It is looking into claims that Lewes MP Maria Caulfield failed to fully declare the costs of her general election campaign last year.



The allegations are separate from claims first revealed in the Mirror three months ago that more than two dozen Tory MPs failed to declare the costs of battlebuses packed with activists.



Sussex Police said: "On 23 May we received an allegation of potential election expenses irregularities by one MP in Sussex relating to the 2015 Parliamentary Elections.



"This is being looked into and a court application is being made for an extension of time."

(Image: REUTERS/Kirsty Wigglesworth)



We understand that the claims relate to the costs of telephone canvassing, leaflets and other costs which Ms Caulfield is accused of failing to declare.



Councillor Sarah Osborne, Lewes Lib Dem group leader, said: “This is a serious and substantive complaint and I hope that the police are given the time they have asked for, to fully investigate."

But Ms Caulfield told the Mirror: "I welcome the investigation as I am confident my election returns were conducted according to the law.

"The complaint from the Lib Dems was put in two weeks before the deadline of the 10th June and so it is important that the police have the time they need to investigate the complaint throughly and I am very happy to supply any evidence needed for the investigation."

A total of 17 police forces have applied or are applying for more time to investigate the Mirror's battlebus allegations, which were subsequently followed up by Channel 4 and other media.

All the MPs involved and the Conservative Party denies wrongdoing.

(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)





Following further Mirror investigations, two other police forces are investigating separate claims against two Conservative MPs.



Metropolitan Police has been granted more time to investigate Gavin Barwell over claims he failed to fully declare the costs of his campaign office.



Meanwhile, a court has given Essex Police more time to investigate Will Quince over allegations that he failed to declare the costs of bringing Team2015 activists to campaign in his constituency.



Both Mr Barwell and Mr Quince insist they have done nothing wrong.