FIVE MPs in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on business and staffing costs in the last 12 months, figures reveal.
Data from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) show that total expenses for five MPs in the BCP area for the 2020-21 financial year were £881,934.60.
Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Michael Tomlinson spent the most locally, his total business cost claims for the latest financial year were £217,449.59.
We contacted Mr Tomlinson for comment but he failed to respond.
READ MORE: At a glance - What your MP spent last year and what on
Sir Christopher Chope told the Bournemouth Daily Echo that he “keeps quite a tight ship” having cost the taxpayer the least amount with a total spend of around £143,000.
The only MP to spend less year-on-year was Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood who reduced his costs by £544.73 in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20.
Mr Ellwood said: “All MPs operate their offices in different ways but certainly you need to be conscious that this is taxpayers' money and therefore there are ways of reducing costs.
He added: “There needs to be a recognisable balance that you are running a small team to answer all of the expectations that an MP absolutely must meet.
“With that will come a cost but ultimately yes you are answerable to the taxpayer and you should be conscious of that.”
Expenses are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out their parliamentary duties including staffing, office costs and travel.
MPs cannot claim for personal costs, such as food and drink, during their normal working day, and all claims must be compliant with IPSA rules and accompanied by evidence.
The smallest claim across all five MPs business costs was 31pence for stationery, made by Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns.
The smallest claim made by Poole MP Sir Robert Syms was £17.99 for software and applications.
With the cost of living rising significantly, the Taxpayers' Alliance said politicians should do their utmost to keep spending down.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It’s important MPs have the resources to do their jobs, but many taxpayers will be worried about the soaring cost of politics.
“The electorate expects politicians to stay grounded and keep costs under control, particularly given the Covid pandemic saw many MPs and their staff work from home."
IPSA’s chairman, Richard Lloyd, said compliance with the rules was at 99.7 per cent last year.
He added: "By far the largest area of spending is to pay for the salaries of MPs’ staff.
"In the last financial year MPs and their staff changed how they work to provide their constituents with a service during the pandemic.
"We enabled MPs’ staff to work from home, while the amount spent on parliamentary business travel fell to reflect different working patterns."
The Bournemouth Daily Echo contacted Conor Burns, Michael Tomlinson and Sir Robert Syms for comment on their claims. We did not receive a response.
Read more on your MPs expenses:
- Michael Tomlinson: Dorset MP spent £25k more than next biggest spender
- Conor Burns: Dorset MP claims 31p for stationery amid £13k rise in his spending
- Sir Robert Syms: Poole MP cost tax payer £170,000 in business expenses last year
- Tobias Ellwood: Bournemouth East MP only conurbation politician to reduce spending
- Sir Christopher Chope: “We keep a tight ship”: Christchurch MP spending revealed
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