Expenses top £623,000

Hey big spender might be the way to address some MPs following the publication of expenses.Local MPs Tom Levitt and Andrew Gwynne were among those who spent the fattest figures this year.They were eighth and twelfth highest respectively, spending roughly £30,000 more than the average MP.Both defended the large sums spent and said it proved they were working hard.Tom Levitt, MP for the High Peak said: “Firstly this only looks at one year and is not typical of other years.“Secondly the expenditure is subject to limits in many cases and I am within the limits.“It shows I am a conscientious member who takes communicating with constituents very seriously.”Mr Levitt’s expenses totalled £168,660, spending the fourth largest amount on postage with £23,700 and sixth greatest sum on stationery at £7,915 out of all 645 MPs nationally.The total was a 17 per cent increase on the £139,557 Mr Levitt spent in the previous year while the average increase of all MPs was five per cent.Steve Sharp, prospective High Peak Lib Dem candidate, said: “I am the first to accept that democracy doesn’t come cheap, but I really would like to know how anyone can justify these figures from public money.”Andrew Gwynne, Audenshaw, Dukinfield and Denton representative, said: “It is often portrayed that parliamentary allowances are like additional perks.“The reality is that they are budgets to allow us to do our jobs properly and ensure there is a properly functioning office in the constituency.“Allowances can only be spent on things that relate to that budget heading.“I hope my expenditure break-down shows that in Denton and Reddish I have ensured, as I promised to do, that there is a local office to deal proactively with my constituents’ concerns and issues.”Mr Gwynne’s total was £164,110, up £38,383 and 23 per cent on 2005/06.The figures make Mr Gwynne the highest claiming MP in Greater Manchester.However, Mr Gwynne is well within his budget.And, as a new MP, faced extra expense because he was still in the process of setting up his office last year.On average UK MPs spent £135,850 for the year up to April, ranging from £44,551 at the lowest to £185,421 at most.Stalybridge and Hyde MP James Purnell, who is also minister for culture, media and sport, claimed £148,064 – the 118th highest.Mr Purnell said: “To ensure the service I provide for constituents remains a high standard, I believe it is essential to have a fully-staffed constituency office as well as having the facilities to correspond with those who contact me in a quick and efficient manner.“I pride myself on being a good constituency MP and that funding is intended to make sure we can offer constituents a good service.”Ashton representative David Heyes was further down the table at 230th, having spent £142,365.

Tameside Reporter