MPs 'named and shamed' over expense claims

The expenses watchdog has for the first time "named and shamed" current and former MPs who refuse to settle their debts.

The ­Independent ­Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has published the details of 26 politicians who failed to pay back debts totalling £2,000.

They include Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood and Justice minister Caroline Dinenage , but some MPs dispute Ipsa's claims.

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Former Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams told Sky News it was "news to him" that he owed money. "They may have allocated something to the wrong heading, a very common error. I don't owe anything."

Children's minister Edward Timpson initially appeared on the list due to an administrative error, but Ipsa has since removed him from it and apologised for the mistake.

Others on the list include Tory whip Guy Opperman who owes £161 in overpaid rent and Labour’s Joe Benton, who stood down in May and owes £309.15 in claims relating to his official phone line, the Daily Mirror reports.

The debts have since been written off as the relatively small sums mean it is not cost-effective for the watchdog to pursue the politicians through salary reductions or legal action.

Details of the expenses and office costs of each MP for the last year have also been published, revealing that the bill to the taxpayer rose by 1.6 per cent to nearly £106m last year. Although spending on hotels and travel has gone done, staffing costs have increased by £2.2m.

IPSA chief executive Marcial Boo said the annual reports include "every single penny claimed by MPs, so that taxpayers and voters can see for themselves how their money is spent and gain assurance that IPSA is scrutinising MPs' expenditure on their behalf."

The IPSA's list comes six years after the MPs expenses scandal broke, revealing that taxpayers had been billed for various luxury items and services including moat-cleaning and a glittery toilet seat.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, urged all MPs still owing money to the authorities to "pay what is due, immediately"."If the expenses scandal taught MPs anything, it should be that the public expect the very highest standards of probity and integrity when it comes to making claims on the taxpayer," he said.