by Simon Tulett

Dartford's MP says he will no longer claim a second home allowance, following a week of expenses shocks.

Dr Howard Stoate announced he will no longer submit a claim for the Parliamentary additional costs allowance, which allows MPs to claim for costs associated with staying away from their main home.

The decision follows a Commons vote which means MPs whose constituencies fall entirely within a 20-mile radius of Westminster will no longer be able to make claims from the ACA as of next year.

Dartford is not one of the constituencies affected by the ruling but Dr Stoate, who has claimed about £56,000 out of a possible £88,000 for a London flat since 2004, has decided to voluntarily give it up.

His decision is effective from the start of this financial year on April 1.

Dr Stoate said: “Although Dartford is not directly affected by this ruling, I wanted to abide by the spirit of the motion which is that MPs with constituencies next to the border of Greater London should no longer submit additional costs allowance. The Commons has made its feelings on this issue very clear and I think it would be wrong of me to fly in its face."

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