Revealed: London MPs claiming £9m expenses

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London MPs cost the taxpayer nearly £9 million for their expenses and allowances, a new analysis reveals today.

It also shows huge variations in what MPs in the capital are claiming, ranging from £173,691 by former Labour minister Joan Ryan, MP for the key marginal of Enfield North, to £93,238 by Tory whip and Uxbridge MP John Randall.

Seventy-three London MPs ran up a bill of £8,885,878 in 2006/07 for allowances and expenses which can be used for a second home, travel, office costs, staff, IT and other purchases - or £121,724 on average each.

Overall, the average bill for each politician representing a constituency in the capital is just over £200,000 a year once their £60,675 salary and the average taxpayer contribution of £17,779 for each MPs' pension last year is taken into account.

This is lower than the average cost of more than £210,000 for MPs as a whole, partly because many politicians with constituencies outside London run up higher bills for second homes and have higher travel costs.

Low-tax campaigners have accused MPs of failing to deliver value for money. However, the Labour politician who spent £35,000 on stamps last year today insisted it proved she was being a good constituency MP.

Mitcham & Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh, who sent out more than 100,000 letters, said: "It is really important to stay in touch with my constituents. Representing them is the reason why I stood for Parliament."

Ms McDonagh, who has a 12,560 majority, amassed a total bill for dispatching letters of £48,000, including £35,207 for stamps and £13,900 for stationery in 2006/07.

This was more than Hendon Labour MP Andrew Dismore's record bill for the previous year of £37,000 for stationery, including £25,146 on prepaid stamped envelopes.

Despite Ms McDonagh's postage bill, Ms Ryan topped the league table of expenses and allowances for London MPs, having previously been in second place.

The four highest spenders were Labour MPs, with Ms McDonagh second on £163,226, Brent North MP Barry Gardiner on £160,464 and Brent South MP Dawn Butler on £157,311. She was the fastest climber up from 13th place to fourth. The steepest fall was Mr Dismore, last year's most expensive MP in the capital, down to eighth. Beckenham MP Jacqui Lait, number four last year, drops to 22.

Propping up the league table is Tory MP for Uxbridge John Randall, on £93,238. "It may be something to do with running my own business over the years," said the MP whip, who commutes to work. Mr Randall and David Evennett, the Tory MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, have taken the bottom two places for the second consecutive year, with the eight lowest places this year being Conservatives.

The official figures published yesterday showed the total bill for MPs was £87.6 million. MPs have now voted themselves a £10,000-a-year communications allowance, with a £7,000 cap on pre-paid stamped envelopes.

HOW MUCH DOES YOUR MP CLAIM?

      Total £: Last year's position:
1 Ryan, Joan Enfield North 173691 2
2 McDonagh, Siobhain Mitcham and Morden 163226 5
3 Gardiner, Barry Brent North 160464 6
4 Butler, Ms Dawn Brent South 157311 13
5 Rosindell, Andrew Romford 153901 3
6 Hodge, Rt Hon Margaret Barking 146301 16
7 Vis, Dr Rudi Finchley and Golder's Green 145986 25
8 Dismore, Mr Andrew Hendon 145146 1
9 Thornberry, Ms Emily Islington South and Finsbury 141358 23
10 Conway, Derek Old Bexley & Sidcup 140916 7
11 Love, Mr Andy Edmonton 140213 9
12 Gapes, Mike Ilford South 137220 8
13 Cohen, Harry Leyton & Wanstead 136679 12
14 Keen, Ann Brentford and Isleworth 135599 15
15 Keen, Alan Feltham and Heston 135009 17
16 Ottaway, Richard Croydon South 133430 24
17 Austin, John Erith & Thamesmead 132497 14
18 Featherstone, Lynne Hornsey & Wood Green 131123 27
19 Khan, Mr Sadiq Tooting 131047 22
20 Watkinson, Angela Upminster 130266 18
21 Cruddas, Jon Dagenham 129956 11
22 Lait, Mrs Jacqui Beckenham 129442 4
23 Jackson, Glenda Hampstead and Highgate 129111 53
24 Slaughter, Mr Andrew Ealing Acton and Shepherd's Bush 128907 34
25 Corbyn, Jeremy Islington North 128434 38
26 Linton, Martin Battersea 128363 21
27 Thomas, Mr Gareth Harrow East 128172 20
28 Davey, Mr Edward Kingston and Surbiton 126983 19
29 Buck, Ms Karen Regent's Park & Kensington North 124750 26
30 Brake, Tom Carshalton & Wallington 124384 30
31 Brown, Lyn West Ham 124246 60
32 McDonnell, John Hayes and Harlington 123921 10
33 Villiers, Mrs Theresa Chipping Barnet 123222 45
34 Hughes, Simon Southwark N and Bermondsey 123125 28
35 Cable, Dr Vincent Twickenham 122242 32
36 McNulty, Mr Tony Harrow East 121984 43
37 Scott, Mr Lee Ilford North 119889 51
38 Burrowes, Mr David Enfield, Southgate 119640 44
39 Efford, Clive Eltham 119063 33
40 Pound, Stephen Ealing North 118952 39
41 Dowd, Jim Lewisham West 118829 49
42 Wicks, Malcolm Croydon North 118700 61
43 Hammond, Stephen Wimbledon 118501 67
44 Ruddock, Joan Lewisham Deptford 118425 31
45 Burstow, Mr Paul Sutton & Cheam 118118 37
46 Kramer, Susan Richmond Park 117837 46
47 Field, Mr Mark Cities of London and Westminster 117780 50
48 Harman, Rt Hon Harriet Camberwell & Peckham 117452 40
49 Teather, Sarah Brentford South 116312 41
50 Jowell, Rt Hon Tessa Dulwich and West Norwood 116149 47
51 Lammy, Mr David Tottenham 115836 42
52 Abbott, Ms Diane Hackney North & Stoke Newington 115032 36
53 Prentice, Bridget Lewisham east 114997 73
54 Timms, Mr Stephen East Ham 114928 48
55 Horam, Mr John Orpington 114285 35
56 Hillier, Meg Hackney South & Shoreditch 113170 63
57 Raynsford, Rt Hon Nick Greenwich and Woolwich 113020 54
58 Pelling, Mr Andrew Croydon Central 112215 52
59 Rifkind, Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Kensington and Chelsea 112122 65
60 Dobson, Rt Hon Frank Holborn & St Pancras 110439 56
61 Fitzpatrick, Jim Poplar & Canning Town 110307 62
62 Hill, Rt Hon Keith Streatham 109817 58
63 Hoey, Kate Vauxhall 108805 55
64 Galloway, Mr George Bethnal Green & Bow 107610 57
65 Gerrard, Mr Neil Walthamstow 106986 66
66 Hurd, Mr Nick Ruislip Northwood 105176 70
67 Duncan Smith, Rt Hon Iain Chingford & Woodford Green 104339 59
68 Neill, Bob Bromley and Chislehurst 102155 n/a
69 Hands, Mr Greg Hammersmith & Fulham 101383 68
70 Greening, Justine Putney 101345 64
71 Brokenshire, James Hornchurch 100210 69
72 Evennett, Mr David Bexleyheath & Crayford 99337 72
73 Randall, Mr John Uxbridge 93238 71

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