Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski talks about the expenses scandal during a public meeting at the Lord Hill Hotel in Shrewsbury.

A Shropshire MP admitted he was “extremely embarrassed” by the actions of his fellow politicians as he held a public meeting in the wake of the expenses scandal.

Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham Daniel Kawczynski said at the meeting last night that he would like to see members of the public given the power to remove an MP in whom they had lost trust.

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He said: “Constituents should have the right under extreme situations to petition that their MP stand down.”

The meeting at the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury, comes as the Daily Telegraph revealed today that Mr Kawczynski earns £64,766 a year and claimed £20,060 for his rented London flat from 2005/06, £22,060 for 2006/07 and £21,980 for 2007/08.

It also reported he claimed £70 for a chest of drawers, £109 for an armchair and £142 for a table.

But Geoffrey Clarke, from Shrewsbury, said at last night’s meeting: “Your expenses still seem rather high. It is like the Premiership and you are trying to get to the bottom of the league table. Will there be a special award for the MP with the lowest expenses?”

Mr Kawczynski said his costs could be higher than some MPs as he employed more staff and held more surgeries to provide a good level of service.

Colin Dewse, of Coton Hill, said he would like to know how much the five people Mr Kawczynski employs were paid.

Mr Kawczynski said he was not prepared to reveal the salaries of private citizens but he admitted he pays his wife £20,000 a year to run both his London and Shrewsbury offices.

Speaking about how the last few weeks had felt Mr Kawczynski said: “It has been extremely embarrassing for me. I am very disappointed with some of my colleagues and how they’ve conducted themselves.”

H said today he was “ple-ased” with how the meeting went, adding: “There were a lot of people there with some very good ideas.”

He said he had not seen the Daily Telegraph but the figures sounded about right for the three years that he rented a London flat. He said the cost reflected London prices and it was unfurnished when he moved in.

At the meeting Mr Kawczynski asked those present to raise their hand if they would like him to give up his Shrewsbury office to save more money. He said nobody he saw raised their hand.

Mr Kawczynski gave up his London flat last year because he said he wanted to save taxpayers’ money.

By Emma Kasprzak