KentOnline readers have rounded on the county's MPs - after we revealed how much they claimed in expenses.

Commuters have reacted furiously at the news the county’s 17 MPs together claimed £320,698 in second homes allowances as part of the £2,197,769 declared for various allowances.

In Kent, nine MPs claimed close to the £23,803 they are entitled to for covering second home costs, including several of those who live closest to Westminster.

On our KentOnline comment section Jock Munro from Paddock Wood said: “These local MPs within commuting distance from Westminster who claim for a second home should be ashamed and disgusted with

themselves.

Read our original story - £130,000 each - that's the average allowance for Kent's MPs! >>>

“I live 40 miles outside London, I commute every day, and do not claim expenses back from my employer. So why the hell should they?

“They have no need for a second home either. It's time this luxury was removed for every MP within a commutable distance to Westminster.”

Mark from Sittingbourne said: “How can MPs within commuting distance of London justify expenses for a second home, especially now they are getting a 2.3 per cent pay rise?”

Bruce from Gravesend said: “Whilst some politicians have been castigating the banking community, who on the whole operated 'within the rules', some seem to have been skimming the public accounts through their parliamentary allowances and when challenged have claimed that they've 'worked within the rules'.

“Definitely kettle and black territory. We expected better.”

Other figures released show Kent MPs claimed £1,530 for the travel costs of members of their families. The Canterbury MP Julian Brazier claimed £397 for 30 journeys taken by his wife. Overall, he claimed £550 for 50 journeys made by family members.

Frank from Folkestone said: “There is no good reason why any member based in Kent should have need to claim anything other than simple travel allowance.

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“With a good company car I suggest that (as the Govt. has already told me) 11p per mile for diesel is more than adequate. One member of staff for any but Ministers should similarly be adequate.

“The time has come to end this obscene gravy train.”

Read Political Editor Paul Francis's blog on MPs' allowances by clicking here>>>

There were some calls for people to look at the figures from another perspective.

Writing from the office of Paul Clark MP in Westminster, Tom Davis said: “It’s worth pointing out a substantial amount of the totals (approximately £100,000) are there for staffing expenses.

“MPs have people to respond to letters and phone calls from constituents. The notion they are each pocketing £130,000 is completely inaccurate.”