Conservative MP David Curry has been forced to quit his post as chairman of Parliament’s Standards Committee — because he has been accused of fiddling his own expenses.

Mr Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon in North Yorkshire, became chairman of the Standards Committee only two months ago after his predecessor was, appropriately enough, appointed to the Tory shadow cabinet as a reward for protecting other senior Tories in the ongoing expenses scandal.

Mr Curry claimed £30,000 towards the cost of a cottage in his constituency — which his wife demanded he keep away from as part of the conditions of their reconciliation after she discovered he was having an affair.

Despite agreeing never to come near the cottage, Mr Curry issued an official statement saying that he had “used the cottage to carry out my duties as a constituency MP and am content with my arrangements.”

The ongoing scandal in which all three Westminster parties have shamelessly swindled and cheated the public, has taken its toll on Britain’s international standing.

In the latest Corruption Perceptions Index issued last week by Transparency International, Britain slipped to an 11-year low.

“This reflects the damage to its international standing caused by the MPs’ expenses scandal and the weakness of its efforts to prosecute foreign bribery,” Transparency International said in a statement.

The Berlin-based nongovernmental organisation, which has published the index since 1995, said it was concerned that Britain’s score had deteriorated in recent years.

“The UK should be aspiring to a CPI score which puts it in the top ten — not struggling to make the top 20,” Transparency International said.

“It should demonstrate that its own house is in order before exhorting developing countries to improve their governance.”

* It is expected that more than half of all sitting MPs will stand down at the next election and not dare to face the electorate again.