MPs from the Shropshire Star’s area claimed expenses totalling more than three quarters of a million pounds last year, according to official House of Commons figures. Four MPs from the area claimed more than the average of £125,000 for the 645 MPs who were elected to the commons at the May 2005 General Election.
The highest claim came from North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, at £136,664, and lowest was Telford MP David Wright, who claimed a total of £110,648.
The expenses and allowances for costs such as travel, office staff and equipment, postage and their London homes are paid on top of their current salaries of £59,686 a year.
Figures for all sitting MPs and those who lost their seats or retired at the election last year have been made available by the parliamentary authorities for the third year under Freedom of Information legislation.
The highest total claimed by any MP was the £174,811 run up by Scottish Labour MP Eric Joyce. At the other end of the claimant table was Kettering Tory MP Philip Holobone, who claimed just £49,576.
Running
Mr Paterson’s total claim of £136,664 included £83,346 for staff; £19,379 in London costs; £19,828 for maintaining his constituency office; £10,090 for travel; and £2,851 for postage.
Wrekin Tory MP Mark Pritchard’s total of £135,818 included £75,345 for staff; £21,634 for his London home; £24,061 for office running costs; £8,885 for travel; and £3,809 for postage.
Next highest claim was from Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik, whose £128,539 total included £78,417 for staff; £25,664 for his office; £14,685 for his London home; £6,410 for travel; and £1,808 for postage.
Shrewsbury & Atcham Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski claimed £127,241, including £68,929 for staff; £26,700 for the office; £20,060 London home; £10,013 travel; and just £150 for postage.
Philip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow, claimed a total of £118,966, including £83,927 for staff; £19,185 office; £3,249 travel; £2,883 for centrally purchased stationery; and £8,834 for postage. But Mr Dunne claimed nothing at all for the costs of living away from his main home in Shropshire.
Telford Labour MP David Wright chalked up the lowest claim of the six MPs - £110,648, which included £66,395 for staff; £18,967 office; £17,773 London; £4,504 travel; and £1,960 for postage.
MPs who retired or lost their seats at the election were able to make claims for their last few weeks in their jobs and for winding down their offices.
Their totals varied markedly from the £61,131 claimed by former Shrewsbury MP Paul Marsden, to the £44,745 by Matthew Green (Ludlow); and the £32,897 by former Wrekin MP Peter Bradley.
By John Hipwood
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