5 out of 7 Local MPs Claim Over £20k in Second Home Allowances

Five of the seven south Essex MPs claimed over £20,000 on allowances for a second home last year, despite living on London's doorstep.

The figures come from MPs' additional costs allowance information released under the Freedom of Information Act by House of Commons authorities.

According to Monday's Echo, the highest claimant from south Essex was John Baron, MP for Billericay, who last year shared top position out of 645 MPs for claiming £22,110 for a second home (It should be noted that Mr Baron's expenditure under other expense headings was not exceptionally high.) The lowest was Thurrock MP Andrew Mackinlay, who last year claimed £15,926.

Basildon MP Angela Smith - who, as the PM's Parliamentary Private Secretary, could be said to have the most responsibility of all south Essex MPs - also claimed among the lowest amounts last year, at £16,336.

Full details of allowances claimed by all MPs dating back to 2004 are expected to be published in December.

MPs earn a base salary of £61,820 a year, plus allowances for travel, staff and offices. The additional costs allowance is based on prices at John Lewis department stores.

MPs' allowances are currently being reviewed by a Commons committee.