Published: Monday, 26th July, 2010 9:30am

MP Mundell's silence over resignation requests

TORY MP DAVID Mundell has refused to be drawn on whether he will be stepping down as a police probe is carried out into his election expenses.

The investigation relates to a £681 advert placed in this paper the Peeblesshire News which was wrongly declared as being spent within the wrong election period.

If the sum had been declared within the correct period then Mr Mundell's spending would have been tipped over the legal limit by £466.

This has prompted calls from some quarters for him to step down temporarily from his Scotland Office ministerial role.

At present Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are investigating the alleged breach of the Representation of the Peoples Act.

The error was uncovered last week following a complaint from a Labour Party member upon which Mr Mundell immediately referred himself to the Electoral Commission.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore however has voiced his support for his deputy Mr Mundell.

He said: "David Mundell reported himself to the Electoral Commission, he has answered all the queries that have been put to him by different authorities.

"He is carrying that out properly, he is letting those investigations run their course and co-operating fully. I have every confidence in him that he can do his job and continue to do it."

However Mr Moore's decision to back his Tory colleague has drawn drew criticism from MSP Christine Grahame MSP.

She said: "The decision by Michael Moore to back his former Conservative opponent is not only hypocritical but highlights the desperate lows the Liberals have now sunk to to hang on to a slither of power in London. There can be no doubt now that Mr Moore is simply the Tories' man in Scotland."

SBC councillor Catriona Bhatia, who as the Lib Dem's recent parliamentary candidate was beaten by Mr Mundell in the DCT seat, said: "Mr Mundell's actions have been, at best, incompetent and, at worst, illegal. Either way it is very concerning and a full and thorough investigation is required.

A spokesman for Mr Mundell said: "David has already referred the matter to Electoral Commission himself. He will not be making any further comment until their deliberations are complete."