DAVID CAMERON, the Conservative party leader, is facing an official investigation for hosting a series of fundraising events in the House of Commons.

He and other senior Tories have hosted 32 fundraising lunches or dinners in private parliamentary rooms in the past two months. They are thought to have raised more than £100,000.

Last week, two backbench Labour MPs filed a formal complaint with Sir Philip Mawer, the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

Parliamentary rules ban the use of Commons dining facilities for fundraising. They state: “The private dining rooms are not to be used for direct financial or material gain by a sponsor, political party or any other person or outside organisation.”

The money raised by Cameron’s events, via his “patrons’ club”, is thought to be used to fund his Witney constituency. Cameron is also alleged to have booked dining rooms and hosted lunches and dinners for fellow Tory MPs.

Last Thursday, Nick Gibb, shadow minister for schools, held a Commons lunch for his patrons’ club, which was also attended by Theresa May, shadow leader of the house.

The Commons charges about £35 a head for a three-course meal in the private dining rooms, enabling the Tories to make a profit from a higher fee. Most functions are thought to be attended by about 50 patron club members.

Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, who lodged the complaint, said: “The misuse of the parliamentary facilities is blatant and disgraceful. These rooms are being block-booked by the Tories months in advance for fundraising functions.

“We have presented enough evidence to the parliamentary commissioner to justify a detailed investigation. Cameron should have to repay every penny his party has raised through these illicit events.” John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, also made the complaint.

A copy of the letter sent to potential members of patrons’ clubs, circulated between Tory MPs, advises them to write to potential members saying: “The club holds dinners in the House of Commons twice a year as well as a reception in the constituency. The membership fee is £225 which includes the cost of one dinner for yourself and a guest. The second dinner and any further guest tickets cost £35 to include wine and a three-course dinner.”

Last week, an undercover reporter approached eight constituency parties and was offered the chance to attend parliamentary dinners or lunches by six.

At Cameron’s association the reporter was told £480 would buy access to up to two parliamentary lunches hosted by the leader, plus two dinners at the homes of wealthy local members — who cover the cost and do not charge the party. Cameron’s constituency is thus able to profit from the parliamentary functions.

“The Principal Patrons [club] . . . have lunches in London and they are at the House of Commons,” said a local official.

In Tunbridge Wells, the constituency of Greg Clark, shadow minister for charities, the patrons’ club costs £160 per person or £265 for a couple for “a dinner in the Houses of Parliament or the Carlton Club”.

An official told the reporter: “It’s quite expensive because — to be honest — you pay a lot to dine in the house and sit in those horribly uncomfortable green leather chairs.”

The official went on to describe how the donors could also have tea on the parliamentary terrace reserved for MPs. “If it’s a nice afternoon, the doors are always open and you can go and stroll up and down and wave at the tourists,” she said.

The Wycombe Conservative Association’s website explains that its patrons’ club is “for those who wish to support the party but do not have the time to be fully involved in all its activities”.

An association official added that the club was for their “more wealthy donors” and that the last event was attended by George Osborne, the shadow chancellor. Paul Goodman is the local MP.

The sale of dinners in the Commons is the latest fundraising controversy to hit Cameron. Last week the Tories disclosed they had taken substantial loans running into millions of pounds from several offshore trusts and companies at rates below those offered by conventional banks.

This week, Cameron will mark his first anniversary as party leader. Yesterday, he laid down the gauntlet to Tory activists and warned they must support his modernising drive or risk losing a fourth election.

A Conservative spokesman said they would be writing to the parliamentary commissioner to “clarify” the rules. He accepted that the patrons’ clubs and their dinners may be used to raise funds for local constituencies.

A party statement said: “The rules state that rooms at the House of Commons can be used for party political purposes and MPs may hire out the rooms for a charge. This appears to be an issue which affects all the political parties.”

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