by Lynn Cox

lcox@thekmgroup.co.uk

Medway MP Bob Marshall-Andrews has hit back at national newspaper reports that he has abused the MPs expenses system.

A report in the Daily Telegraph, claimed the outspoken left-wing member had claimed £118,000 on his second home, since 2001.

Some of the leaked details stated the veteran parliamentarian listed various claims including stereo equipment, extensive redecoration and a pair of Kenyan carpets bought for his Rochester flat.

However, Mr Marshall Andrews speaking to the Medway Messenger, says he has saved the taxpayer money by using his second home as his constituency office.

He claims the Telegraph article was seriously misleading, and failed to identify the purpose of expenditure and to place it properly into context.

The home in Castle Hill, Rochester, which only has three rooms.

One of the rooms he uses at a bedroom, another an office and the remainder is for ‘common use.’

He said: "Combining the two saves considerable public expense and my aggregate claims for this expenditure are among the lowest of any non London MP."

He also points out that when he was elected in 1997, all the furniture, fixtures and fittings for both the office and the residential quarters, were paid for out of his own pocket.

He added: "Almost 10 years later refurbishment, redecoration and replacement was necessary to both areas and most of this was not borne by my own (Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) as was alleged.

"By express agreement with the fees office it was split between my office expenses Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP) and my own ACA.

"This was completely reasonable and would apply to any small business.

"MP’s require decent offices and some reasonable accommodation in their constituencies.

"By operating as I do I keep these expenses to a minimum and I hope have provided, with my fine staff an excellent service for my constituency."

Mr Marshall-Andrews lists his main home in Richmond, South-West London, which is about 10 miles away from the House of Commons.

He added: "I am fully in favour of transparency when it comes to MPs expenses but the way this has been done has meant the Telegraph has been able to cherry pick the stories.

"My staff are very upset about this because they know it’s a travesty. It’s a total distortion of the truth."