Shock as Oldham East & Saddleworth MP is England's 8th most expensive

4.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 31st Mar 2009

New figures released by Parliament show that Oldham East & Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas is the 8th most expensive English MP for expenses, with a total expenses bill of £169,427. Mr Woolas is also the 6th most expensive MP when staffing costs are taken out of the equation.

"In these hard times it is simply unacceptable for MPs to carry on like this. Of course they need staff to do casework for constituents, but Mr Woolas' expenses are among the highest even when these staffing costs are taken out of the equation," says Elwyn Watkins, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth.

Elwyn added: "His travel expenses, at over £15,000, particularly stand out. He has one of the highest bills for air travel among English MPs, which is a little hypocritical when he used to be climate change minister!

"Comparable local MPs spend much less - for example, Ashton MP David Heyes's travel expenses are much less at £9,500. Being a minister is no excuse, either, as Stalybridge & Hyde MP James Purnell, a Cabinet Minister, spends only £5,000 on travel expenses.

"And it isn't just travel - Mr Woolas spends £16,000 more than David Heyes and £22,000 more than James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on total non-staffing expenses.

"Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg yesterday called for all party leaders to meet and urgently reform the MP expenses system, including a demand that all expenses are accompanied by a receipt - just as they would be in any other job."

Mr Woolas receives a salary of over £100,000 a year.