MPs must accept outcome

As a long-time supporter of Freedom of Information, I welcome the debate about MPs' expenses. I published mine on line as soon as possible.

It seems to me we should ask questions about two things: individual items and total claims.

With regard to the first, I have considered very carefully all of the comments about my claim for the cost of my toaster. It is clear that most of those who have commented think that the claim was unreasonable. I have therefore decided to make a donation of the equivalent amount to a charity of the editor's choice.

In terms of my total claims for the cost of living away from my constituency home, these were higher, as the Post correctly reported, in the initial years after I moved to my current London address. Last year, after initial set-up costs, they fell to 60 per cent of the maximum amount allowed.

Currently, my total costs of living in London, including mortgage interest, are running at less than £550 per month. It isn't possible to rent a one-bedroom flat in London for anything like this amount. A typical figure would be three times as much.

While I believe therefore that my expenses are reasonable, I strongly support an independent examination of all MPs' expenses, with a clear commitment from us that we will accept the outcome of such an examination without any qualifications. We must recognise the real anger and dismay about some of the revelations concerning MPs' expenses and allowances and act accordingly.

Roger Berry MP, Labour, Kingswood.