ERIC JOYCE, the Labour MP for Falkirk in central Scotland, was exposed yesterday as the country’s most expensive MP, and immediately admitted he was costing too much. He claimed a total of £174,811 in expenses for his parliamentary work, averaging nearly £3,362 a week.

As their annual expenses were published, MPs, ministers and cabinet members released statements that claimed they were good value for money in an attempt to quell concern about their gravy train image.

Mr Joyce’s total includes £44,985 in personal UK travel costs and £78,615 on staff in his Commons office. He also claimed £21,629 in allowances for staying in London away from his main home, and £25,005 in general office running costs. He claimed more than three times as much as Philip Hollobone, the Conservative MP for Kettering, who was the cheapest English MP working at Westminster with expenses of £49,576. Only the Sinn Fein MPs claimed less, but they have not taken up their seats in the Commons. William Rennie, who was elected after a byelection, has yet to serve a full year.

Mr Joyce, whose travel expenses of nearly £900 a week were higher than those of any other MP, said he sometimes travelled a couple of times a week from his Scottish constituency to London, but added: “My constituents have always been a priority for me but clearly my travel costs need to come down without the work I do for them and the service I offer them being affected.”

Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, who employs her husband, Leo, as office manager, claimed more than any other MP for Commons staff, at £99,589. A spokesman for Mrs Beckett said: “She pays her staff a decent wage, apart from her husband, Leo, who is paid the least and works the longest hours.”

But Mrs Beckett claimed less in total than Jacqui Smith, the Labour Chief Whip, who is the most expensive member of the Cabinet and fourth most-expensive MP, with expenses totalling £158,313 including £16,458 on postage and £5,788 on stationery. Ms Smith immediately issued a statement declaring: “My constituents rightly demand a high level of service, which is why I invest in providing a hard working, constituency based hub for my local casework and campaigning activities.”

However, her postage claims were dwarved by Andrew Dismore, the Labour MP for Hendon, who spent £25,146 on stamps and £12,258 on stationery.

Tony Blair, who enjoys the facilities of No 10, claimed one of the most frugal set of expenses at £87,342. Ministers whose London accommodation is paid for by the taxpayer, such as the Prime Minister in Downing Street, can opt to claim the money for their constituency homes. Tony Blair claimed £16,417 towards the cost of his house in Sedgefield.

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, was not particularly prudent, with expenses totalling £134,586, more even than John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, who claimed a comparatively modest £115,013 in expenses.

Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, was the most expensive party leader with £157,844. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, claimed £135,729. Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, claimed £46,251, including £2,123 towards the cost of travel on parliamentary business, even though he boycotts Parliament.

Mr Hollobone, the cheapest MP, explained his frugality to The Times: “I don’t directly employ any staff — I handle all my constituency e-mails, letters and phonecalls myself. I enjoy the case work and decided to concentrate on that. Standing up in the House of Commons and speaking up for your constituents costs nothing.”

MPs can claim up to £87,276 for salaries for researchers, secretaries and other staff. Other allowances can be claimed for travel on parliamentary business, office costs, stationery, postage and computer equipment. Around £20,000 can be claimed by MPs with constituencies outside Central London.

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