MP’s exes are among the highest (From Tewkesbury Admag)

MP’s exes are among the highest

12:47pm Thursday 15th February 2007 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson claims the second highest petrol allowance of all the country's MPs.

Detailed expenses published this week show that last year he claimed £12,000 and, over the past three years, has claimed a total of £48,000.

Speaking during a visit to Tewkesbury, while Parliament is in recess, Mr Robertson, who drives a 2-litre diesel Jaguar, said his expenses are so high because he has such a large constituency to cover.

He also says that he very rarely travels between Tewkesbury and London by train, because the service is so bad.

"I drive because the London train does not stop at Ashchurch and the trains from Cheltenham and Gloucester are hopeless," said Mr Robertson. "They never go when I want to travel and are not frequent enough."

He says that if his fuel costs and train travel are averaged out his overall travelling expenses are probably not too bad, given the size of the constituency.

The constituency covers the whole of the borough of Tewkesbury, an area of 160 sq miles.

The highest claim was from Janet Anderson, MP for Rosendale and Darwen. She claimed £16,612 last year.

Conservative leader David Cameron, who is the MP for Witney, claimed £1,094 for car hire and £210 mileage last year.

MPs can claim travel expenses for parliamentary business within the UK and certain travel in Europe.

The figures were revealed under the freedom of information act, after a two-year campaign by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker. He described it as a victory for freedom of information.