Tories come clean on expenses

5:49pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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Three of Oxfordshire's Tory MPs spent £30,000 on expenses in just 12 weeks.

New figures published voluntarily by the Conservatives show David Cameron, Ed Vaizey and Tony Baldry claimed taxpayers' cash for a range of items over a three-month period.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey has been criticised for spending £658 on a dishwasher and washing machine and £474 on curtains and blinds for his new constituency home.

The claims came under fire from the Taxpayers' Alliance which is are campaigning for MPs to be more responsible with public money.

Campaign director Mark Wallace said: "We really welcome the fact that these figures are being published, but we are totally against this kind of spending.

"The fact that MPs are allowed to claim goods like dishwashers and washing machines on their allowances is one of the biggest bugbears for taxpayers as it means MPs are isolated from the economic pressures that the average person is having to deal with."

"People are very concerned that politicians are talking about keeping down costs and not giving public sector workers pay rises, but are setting a bad example by claiming taxpayers' money to pay for their goods and services."

Mr Vaizey, said: "I don't think I'm being extravagant in providing a few basic items such as a dishwasher, and I'm not planning to buy a plasma television or other luxury items. I will probably buy some carpets - because it's a new home I will furnish it."

Constituent Bob Turner, 73, of Stockham Park, Wantage, said: "I think it's an absolute disgrace. I don't want my money going on furnishing Mr Vaizey's house."

The figures were released on the orders of party leader and Witney MP Mr Cameron in an attempt to bring greater openness.

He said: "We are the first party to demand this information from our members, and our MPs are voluntarily revealing a much more detailed breakdown of their expenses than official rules require them to. I'm glad that we're leading the way."

No details were released for former Henley MP Boris Johnson - now Mayor of London.

The figures exclude MPs' staffing allowances which take up around three quarters of an average MP's annual expenses claim.