Most expensive MP defends record

Ms Curtis-Thomas says voters should be able to see the figures

The MP who claimed more expenses than anybody else in Parliament last year has said the figures prove she is doing her job properly.

Merseyside MP Claire Curtis-Thomas topped the first published list of expense claims paid out in 2003-4 with her total of £168,889.

On Friday, the Labour MP said she was pleased the public could see the list.

"It is an irony that the MP who spends more will be working hardest for their constituents," she said.

"I ensure that I fully represent the community I have been elected by and therefore require high operating costs.

"I always have and will continue to work the hardest I can for my constituents."

'More work'

The expenses claims for all MPs totalled £78m - some £20m higher than two years ago.

Each MP claimed an average of £118,437 each, on top of their basic salary of £57,000.

MPs are entitled to claim £20,000 on a second home if they live outside London, the same amount for office costs and up to £72,000 in staff costs.

WHAT THEY CAN CLAIM Second home - up to £20,333 Office space - up to £18,799 Staff costs - up to £72,310 Plus stationery and travel costs

When those expenses are taken into account, the average backbencher receives £175,000 a year.

The figures have been released for the first time now because they will become available when the Freedom of Information Act comes into force next year.

The payments were defended by Sir Archy Kirkwood MP, from the House of Commons Commission, who said MPs faced greater workloads than ever before.

"They now deal with issues, and communicate in ways unheard of a few years ago," he said.

"They require more back-up staff, more computer resources, and more allowances to enable them to travel back and forth to Parliament, living away from home for days at a time, while keeping in touch with the problems and issues of their constituents."

SEE WHAT EACH MP SPENT Table of all MPs' allowances 2003-04 (465K) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here MPs' expenses laid bare

Tony Blair's claim was published at £80,836, the cheapest MP being Stephen McCabe in Birmingham, at £70,519.

There were also claims from Sinn Fein MPs, with West Belfast MP Gerry Adams receiving £109,315 in expenses, and £110,653 for Martin McGuinness, although none of the party's four MPs sit in Parliament.

An MP can retire with a £28,742 annual pension after 20 years in the Commons. They also receive a pay-off of up to £57,485 if they are defeated at a general election.

The pension pays up to 1/40th of their final salary for each year they pay in - twice as much as many schemes.

Backlash?

Britain's biggest union, Unison, has questioned the amount claimed by some MPs.

A spokesman said: "Some of these expenses do seem excessive, particularly when we have other public sector workers who are on very low wages and don't get much help with housing."

And former MP Martin Bell said MPs should brace themselves for a backlash, and he criticised ministers who have "grace and favour" homes, and still claim for accommodation in London.

But former Conservative MP and journalist, Michael Brown, says the money spent overall is reasonable, costing every voter about £3 a year.

Labour MP David Winnick, who claimed £75,000, said MPs should submit their tax returns to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner for checks - as happens in America.

He suggested the Freedom of Information Act would mean BBC journalists would have to reveal their expenses claims and he argued newspaper editors should follow suit.