IN the wake of the national scandal over the expense claims of former secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Maria Miller, a Bromsgrove man has started an online petition demanding criminal prosecutions be made against all MPs suspected of expense fraud.

Paul Tulk, 46, from Bromsgrove has created the petition on the change.org website, which allows members of the public to start petitions about issues they care about in the community. The more signatures a petition gets the more chance it has of becoming noticed by lawmakers.

"The people of this country are sick of watching MPs avoid prosecution when a person off the street would be jailed," reads Mr Tulk's petition.

"MPs make the rules and they should be bound by the rules like everyone else. Parliament is elected by the people for everyone, not to exempt a select few.

"Over many years we have watched MPs defraud, steal and get away with slaps on the wrist just because they are MPs and the need to avoid a scandal. The process of self governance on fraud has failed entirely and the stench of it has become to much.

"It is time to bring them (MPs) in line with everyone else and make them as vulnerable to prosecution as the rest of us. And if they are found guilty they should be jailed and never be allowed to hold public office again."

Mr Tulk's petition had amassed 400 online signatures only 48-hours after it had become active and at the time of going to press more than 1,000 signatures had been recorded. He is hoping that many more will join his protest.

"MPs can't be trusted to take care of this issue themselves and the police should be brought in to deal with it. It's disgraceful - stealing is stealing," he added.

In 2009 the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) was created to manage MP's expenses following the national expenses scandal that erupted that year.

MPs are now responsible for two codes of conduct; a non-statutory code drawn up by the House of Commons and a statutory code drawn up by the IPSA.

Where criminal charges can be made the police will become involved, as seen with a number of MPs, including Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor, who were charged under the Theft Act and sentenced to jail terms.

To sign Mr Tulk's petition visit change.org/en-GB/petitions/prosecute-all-mp-s-and-lords-suspected-of-fraud.