Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Lord Hanningfield are all set to face trial later this year in relation to their expenses claims as MPs. They lost their application today regarding a 300-year-old law which exempts MPs and Lords from prosecution with regards to parliamentary activity. However, despite the fact that their request to have the case thrown out of court was rejected today they have been given leave to appeal which will again cost UK taxpayers in excess of £100,000!

This is not the kind of headlines which David Cameron and Nick Clegg wanted to see as they had hoped that the MPs expenses saga was over. However, despite the fact they have lost their initial hearing regarding parliamentary privileges they are still appealing to escape the High Court. Quite when the actual court cases will take place remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, each day extension to the saga is adding yet more cost for the UK taxpayer as the parties involved have been given legal aid.

So far there has been no comment by David Cameron or Nick Clegg but this is an area of Parliament which they had promised to "tidy up" in the run-up to the last general election.

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