by political editor Paul Francis

Labour MPs in Kent have been ordered to check their allowances claims and alert party chiefs to any potentially embarrassing details, it has emerged.

It is understood regional party managers have instructed all MPs to scrutinise the details of all their claims, fearing that they could spark another round of damaging headlines when they are published in the summer.

Meanwhile, the county’s MPs have given their reaction to the revelations involving some of their colleagues, describing them as appalling and outrageous.

It comes as David Cameron is reported to be preparing to discipline some of his team over their claims.

As the public and political furore continues over the revelations, one said he was embarrassed to be an MP.

Others said they feared the forthcoming county council and European elections would see the public voting for minority parties in protest. Another said he was considering disclosing all his allowances claims every month.

The latest set of disclosures in the Daily Telegraph include details of some claims made by the Medway MP Bob Marshall-Andrews. The newspaper alleges that the MP has claimed £117,916 in allowances for his flat in Rochester.

Dr Steve Ladyman (Lab) MP for Thanet South, said: "I cannot blame the public for the way they are feeling about it. I just wish they would understand that we are not all tarred with the same brush. I did not know about half the things that people have claimed for...it would never have occurred to me that you would claim for some of these things. I feel embarrassed to be an MP at the moment and I feel very cross."

Gywn Prosser (Lab), MP for Dover, said: "For once, when people say you couldn’t make it up, they are right. It is an unedifying mess. If the vast majority of MPs, who I am convinced have acted properly, had known that some of their colleagues were abusing the rules, we would have thrown the arrangements out years ago and put in place a more transparent system."

Asked if he thought MPs should be repaying allowances, he said: "It is up to individual MPs to look at their expenses and if they are challenged over any part, to pay them back. It is hugely damaging."

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson (Con) said: "I am completely appalled. The only answer, as I’ve said before, is for there to be a radical reform of the system and complete transparency. The obvious reaction to this is that more people will vote for minority parties and we only have ourselves to blame."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt (Lab) said he was considering whether to publish all his allowances claims every month. "It is embarrassing for the main parties and we deserve it. We need a bigger salary and no allowances. If we had that, all this would go away."

Maidstone and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe said the Commons authorities should be cautious about rushing details of all MPs’ claims out.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, she said: "If the Commission is looking at the possible earlier release of the information, can I be assured that we will all keep our heads and recognise that MPs are going through many thousands of sheets of paper? I have today sent to the Fees Office many sheets, asking for corrections which consist of nothing more esoteric than the removal of a credit card number or private individuals’ names and addresses, making it clear where something has not been claimed. If that is multiplied across the House, there is a huge task. May I ask that we keep our heads and not be driven by what is happening?"