How much did BCP conurbation MPs cost the taxpayer?

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show the Conservative MP's total business costs for the 2019-20 financial year were £211,177.01.

The Mid Dorset and North Poole MP's costs were well above the average for other members of parliament elected before December 2019, of £188,295.

By comparison, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has cost £259,057 over the same time, and Philip Hollobone, Conservative MP for Kettering, just £78,960.

Mr Tomlinson spent £171,248.94 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £153,507.79 on staff wages and £17,741.15 on other office expenditures.

He also spent £32,536.28 of his accommodation budget (of £39,225), and a further £7,391.79 on travel and subsistence.

The second highest spender of the conurbation's MPs was Conor Burns - who cost the taxpayer £179,066.66 in the last financial year,

The Conservative Bournemouth West MP spent £156,860.04 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £139,317.59 on staff wages and £17,542.45 on other office expenditures.

He also spent £19,476.53 of his accommodation budget (of £22,920), and a further £1,641.45 on travel and subsistence.

The total cost of MPs last year rose by seven per cent to £127.6 million – including £5.58 million on travel and subsistence claims, and at least £718,700 on hotel claims – though 2019-20 does include more MPs as a result of new members following the election.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "While MPs must have the resources to do their jobs, many taxpayers will be worried about the growing cost of politics.

“The electorate expects politicians to stay grounded and keep costs under control, particularly the millions spent on travel and overnight expenses.

“With the economy and public finances in such dire straits, limiting their expenses claims where possible would be a welcome way for MPs to show that we’re all in it together.

The IPSA said the preparations for a General Election and the pandemic had had a significant impact on their work during the 2019-20 financial year, and on parliament.

Interim chairman Richard Lloyd added: “In March we moved to full working from home for all our staff, and put in place a package of practical support for MPs and their staff to help them continue to serve their constituents during the Covid crisis.

"Every month over 4,000 MPs and staff have their salaries paid and business costs reimbursed, within the rules set independently by IPSA. It’s good for confidence in our system that compliance with the rules is very high, at 99.97per cent.

“Through IPSA, taxpayers can be assured that public money has been spent appropriately by Members of Parliament, and that we have helped them to serve their constituents during the most difficult of times.”

MPs' costs are usually broken down into dozens of categories, with staff pay almost always the largest expense.

Poole MP Robert Syms cost the taxpayer £161,721.57 in the last financial year.

Mr Syms spent £138,539.64 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £125,995.17 on staff wages and £12,544.47 on other office expenditures.

The Tory MP spent £18,876.33 of his accommodation budget (of £28,355), and a further £4,305.60 on travel and subsistence.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood cost the taxpayer £159,429.42.

Mr Ellwood spent £112,648.57 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £97,085.37 on staff wages and £15,563.20 on other office expenditures.

The Bournemouth East MP also spent £33,600.00 of his accommodation budget (of £33,790), and a further £13,180.85 on travel and subsistence.

Christchurch MP Christopher Chope cost the tax payer the least, with his total business costs listed as £134,117.04 for the 2019/20 financial year.

The Tory MP spent £125,847.33 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £106,455.91 on staff wages and £19,391.42 on other office expenditures.

Mr Chope also spent £3,320.76 of his accommodation budget (of £5,270), and a further £4,948.95 on travel and subsistence.