If this is true, it wouldn't surprise me...

A total of £1.2 Million was falsely claimed for items such as trouser presses, decorative trees, tea-towels, gardening manure, massage chairs, etc etc – all funded ( unknowingly ) by the UK taxpayers.

As a result of the official inquiry - backed up in some cases by police investigations - it is likely that the bulk of the cash will now be repaid by the 350 politicians involved.

The inquiry cost £1.1 Million – and was funded by . . . the UK taxpayers.

Update, as reported by the BBC:

The parliamentary body for policing expenses will cost about six times as much to set up as MPs have been ordered to repay.

Figures show the start-up cost for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will be £6.6m.

Hat tip to twellve for spotting the revised figure.