Kent MP Ann Widdecombe says MPs should not have to disclose private home addresses as part of a demand for details about their expenses.

The Maidstone and Weald MP said she supported an eleventh-hour attempt by the Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin to block the release of details of expenses claimed by 14 MPs associated with running a second home.

The 14 include the Kent MP and former Conservative party leader Michael Howard.

The information about Additional Costs Allowances (ACA) was due to be published last week. However, the Commons authorities decided to challenge a ruling made under the Freedom of Information Act that had ordered detailed expenses for the 14 be released.

The House of Commons argued the disclosure of the addresses of MPs’ second homes could compromise their security.

Miss Widdecombe stressed she had no objection to the disclosure of expenses claims. However, she was concerned at the tone of the debate and felt there was a media witchunt which would lead to unfair demands for information.

“It is the tone of the debate which is worrying, suggesting we get huge gold-plated allowances. The whole debate is ridiculous. I know of no other profession which would require employees to give out their private addresses. The only way to resolve it is to get a High Court judgement.”

While she understood the importance of transparency, she was concerned the media would not stop demanding fresh information and that publishing addresses could jeopardise MPs’ safety.

“My worry is that once they know one thing, they will want to know more; they know how much we spend on telephone calls...[next] they will want to know who we are calling.”

A perception had built up that all MPs were making money out of their allowances when in fact most of it was taken up by paying salaries to office staff, she added.

Meanwhile, fellow Kent Conservative MP Hugh Robertson said he supported more openness, saying the on-going row was damaging Parliament. “It is utterly wrong that a system should have grown up whereby allowances should be seen by a small minority as a proxy for salary and the system is in need of total reform. This should be done on a cost neutral basis,” he said.