EXPENSES FOR WEST MPs TOP £5MILLION
The total given to all MPs in 2007-08 was just over £93 million, up about six per cent on the previous year – and it has emerged they will enjoy an inflation-busting pay rise this year.
The 35 West MPs received a total of £5,222,638 in 2007-08 for costs such as travel, London housing and postage, up £345,606 on the previous year.
It means they claimed an average of almost £150,000 each, compared with the typical expenses and allowances given to MPs of £144,176.
Bridgwater Tory Ian Liddell- Grainger claimed £166,109, the high- est in the West, ranking him 36 out of 645 MPs on the official Commons list.
The MP, who received an additional £31,688 compared with the previous year when he was 387th on the list, was not available for comment last night.
Tory Tewkesbury MP Lawrence Robertson and Liberal Democrats Jeremy Browne (Taunton), Nick Harvey (North Devon), Paul Keetch (Hereford) and Steve Webb (Northavon) were also well above average.
Monmouth Tory David Davies claimed £46,822 more in 2008-07 than the previous year, moving from 593 to 99th on the list.
But Labour Wansdyke MP Dan Norris, who was fourth in 2007, claimed £17,323 less, dropping to 183 in the rankings. Mr Norris said the higher claim in the previous year was partly due to staff sickness.
He said: "I think I was the only MP in the West to vote for Freedom of Information to apply for MPs' allowances.
"I am pleased that I do not have any staff that are ill this year, and have not had to find cover for them."
Labour MPs Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) and Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West) and Tories James Gray (North Wiltshire), Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) and Michael Ancram (Devizes) also received less than the previous year.
Salisbury Tory MP Robert Key received £113,643, the lowest in the West, ranking him at 589.
The figures showed Home Secretary Jacqui Smith claimed £22,948 for her second home, among an overall expenses claim of £157,631.
Her claims are already under investigation by a sleaze watchdog, and she is now battling fresh embarrassment after it emerged public money paid for two adult films watched by her husband.
The expenses inquiry was launched after she designated her sister's property in London, where she stays, as her main home, allowing her to claim back the costs of running her family house in her Midlands constituency.
The figures showed Gordon Brown claimed £124,454 and Tory leader David Cameron £148,829.
MPs can claim a range of expenses and allowances, including a maximum £23,083 for the additional costs allowance (ACA) – for staying away from home on parliamentary duties.
The ACA cash can be used for running and furnishing a home, as well as rent or mortgage interest payments.
Ms Smith has apologised for her husband watching the pay-for-view pornographic films, and handed back the money, but the embarrassing incident has triggered calls for her to resign from the Cabinet.
Mr Brown gave her strong backing yesterday, saying she had done the right thing in apologising, and was doing a great job as Home Secretary.
He said: "I do not think this issue should be allowed to detract from everything she is doing to ensure we protect the public and keep our neighbourhoods safe."
The biggest claim was made by Labour Falkirk MP Eric Joyce, at £187,371, with other Scottish MPs in second and third place.
The lowest claim was by Tory Kettering MP Philip Hollobone for just £47,737, including only £400 for staffing costs.
Meanwhile it was announced MPs will enjoy a pay rise of 2.33 per cent from tomorrow, bringing their salary to £64,766.
Members of the Government will have their Ministerial salaries frozen, with those who are MPs also losing the £1,500 extra in parliamentary pay they are entitled to, Downing Street said.
Mr Brown urged the sleaze watchdog to speed up its probe into MPs' expenses, and has suggested scrapping the ACA, replacing it with a flat-rate payment for overnight stays.
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