So David Chaytor is to face criminal charges over his expenses claims as MP for Bury North.

There are three allegations.

The first charge comes under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968, for false accounting. The allegation is that in May 2006 Mr Chaytor dishonestly claimed £1,950 for computer services by using false invoices.

The second count alleges that between September 2005-September 2006, the MP dishonestly claimed £12,925 for renting a property in London when he was actually the owner.

The third charge alleges that between September 2007-January 2008, Mr Chaytor dishonestly claimed £5,425 – purportedly for renting a property in Bury for his mother.

Mr Chaytor issued a joint statement with two other Labour MPs facing charges – Eliot Morley and Jim Devine.

“We are clearly extremely disappointed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to instigate proceedings against us,” it said. “We totally refute any charges that we have committed an offence and will defend our position robustly. We are confident of our position and have been advised by eminent QCs. We maintain that this is an issue that should be resolved by the parliamentary commissioner who is there to enforce any breach of the rules.”

I spent much of last night ringing contacts in Westminister and Bury and it became clear this was the likely course of action.

Labour – both nationally and locally – will be strictly limited in what more they can say about the cases now they are subject to formal legal proceedings. But that doesn’t mean that the issue is going to go away.