An MP in Nottinghamshire has responded after being named 'Britain's most expensive MP' with claims totalling more than £280,000.
The Tax Payers' Alliance says the total spend of MPs in the 2020/21 financial year was £132.5 million, according to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
This was a 4.6 per cent increase on the £126.7 million spent in 2019/20, the organisation says.
And Broxtowe's Conservative MP Darren Henry was named as 'Britain's most expensive MP' with expenses totalling £280,936.
The Tax Payers' Alliance, set up in 2004 to challenge what MPs spend taxpayer money on, says: "Britain’s most expensive MP was the member for Broxtowe, Darren Henry, with total spending of £280,936. This compares to the least expensive MP which was the member for Kettering, Philip Hollobone, spending £80,709.
"The average cost of an MP was £203,880 in 2020/21, a 29.2% increase from the average £157,747 spent in 2019/20."
Mr Henry has attributed the costs to an "exceptionally busy year for correspondence" and, as a result, having to employ additional staff.
According to figures released by IPSA Mr Henry spent £30,974 on accommodation (rent), £13,897 on 'miscellaneous', £40,991 on office costs, £5,084 on staff travel and £185,781 on staffing.
He has so far spent £15,638.75 on business costs, including staff, in 2021/22.
In a statement to Nottinghamshire Live he said: "2020/21 was a difficult year for my team, with long-term staff sickness which raised extra staffing costs.
"It was also an exceptionally busy year for correspondence requiring me to employ extra staff in order for my constituents to still receive assistance during an incredibly difficult period. These costs were covered by IPSA granting me a contingency fund. IPSA have confirmed that the contingency budget for 20/21 was spent exclusively on staffing costs.
"All my expenses have been verified and granted by IPSA in accordance with the rules and I am acutely aware that this is public money and do all I can to keep them reasonable.
"I do not claim for travel costs within the constituency for myself, but I will not have staff out of pocket for anything they do that is work related. As well as being a Member of Parliament it is also important to remember I am an employer who has a responsibility for the welfare of my staff.
"2020/21 was an exceptional year and I am sure the figures for 2021/22 will reflect that."
Named in the top 10 most expensive MPs in Britain was another Nottinghamshire MP.
Brendan Clarke-Smith, who was also elected the very same year as Mr Henry, represents Bassetlaw for the Conservatives.
Mr Clarke-Smith, who grew up on a council estate in Clifton, was ranked seventh out of the top 10.
He claimed a total of £256,925 in the same financial year.
Responding Mr Clarke-Smith told Nottinghamshire Live: "This data relates to business costs and not ‘expenses’ in the traditional sense.
"These are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out their parliamentary duties including staffing, office costs and travel. Contrary to common misconceptions, MPs cannot claim for personal costs, such as food and drink, during their normal working day. All claims must be compliant with the rules and accompanied by evidence.
"The vast majority – 76% - of MPs’ business costs are for staff members to help them support their constituents. MPs employ staff to respond to requests from local people, resolve issues and represent their needs in Parliament. My office in Worksop filled an empty shop, remained open since September 2020 and also employs local people.
"This year’s data also includes the additional funding provided to MPs to enable them and their staff to support constituents during the pandemic. MPs and their staff had a huge increase in the volume and complexity of casework over the past two years and the covid budgets enabled them to provide support during this difficult time.
"In Bassetlaw alone, we have dealt with over 20,000 individual cases for constituents in the last two years."
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