Almost two out of three voters want a snap general election as anger over MPs' expenses grows.

Some 65 per cent of people believe a general election should be called as soon as possible and 64 per cent say politicians "named and shamed" as expenses cheats should be forced to quit Parliament, according to a ComRes poll.

The news came after Labour MP Shahid Malik stepped down as justice minister pending an investigation into claims he breached the ministerial code by striking a deal to pay a landlord less than £100 per week - below the market value.

Reports said Mr Malik claimed £66,827 over three years for items in his second home including a home cinema system, a £730 massage chair and £65 for a court summons for non-payment of council tax.

He refused to return any of the money to the parliamentary authorities, but said he would donate £1,050 he claimed for his television to worthy causes in his constituency.

A panel of senior Scotland Yard officers and prosecutors will meet next week to decide what action to take in response to a surge of complaints that MPs have misused parliamentary expenses.

Dewsbury MP Mr Malik insisted he has done nothing wrong and said he looks forward to being cleared by independent adviser Sir Philip Mawer and returning as a minister "with my head held high".

His claims were the latest in a series of disclosures which have sent Parliament reeling and led to unprecedented pressure on the Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin.

A second Labour MP claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money for interest on a non-existent mortgage, it emerged tonight.

David Chaytor, the Labour member for Bury North, is to pay back £13,000 after admitting he had made an "unforgivable error" in continuing to submit £1,175 monthly bills for a mortgage he had already paid off.

He is now flying back from a publicly-funded Commons committee visit to the United States and will almost certainly face disciplinary action.

Former minister Elliot Morley was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party on Thursday after admitting a similar £16,000 claim and referring himself to the Westminster sleaze watchdog.

Ex-Labour MP Tam Dalyell, 76, who was the father of the House of Commons, insisted he had done nothing wrong in claiming £18,000 for bookcases two months before he retired as an MP in 2005.

Former Cabinet member Clare Short over-claimed by £8,000 after putting in for her full mortgage payments despite only being entitled to the interest, it was revealed.

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