Embarrassing details from the expenses claims of Margaret Beckett were censored although they posed no threat to her security, it emerged yesterday. References to claims for a pergola and plants, which were rejected by the Fees Office, were deleted from the claims published on Thursday.

Mrs Beckett, a leading contender to become Speaker, was the only candidate who failed to respond to repeated requests from The Times to produce unredacted expenses amid signs of divisions between the Speaker candidates over transparency.

The other candidates for the Speaker’s post agreed to hand over their unredacted expenses, although some said that they would not be able to do so until Monday, the day of the ballot for Speaker, for practical reasons.

Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Patrick Cormack offered to show uncensored details of their claims in their offices. Ann Widdecombe said that she would not show unredacted expenses, to protect her staff, but would answer any questions about redacted areas.

John Bercow, one of the front-runners, was the first to hand over unclensored details. They included a letter he wrote asking for Parliament to pay for the unblocking of his lavatory.

As the campaign moved into the final phase, Mrs Beckett’s candidacy appeared to be gathering momentum. Despite her late entry into the race, The Times has learnt that Nick Brown, the Labour Chief Whip, was canvassing Tory MPs over whether she would have their support before she stepped down from the Government at the start of the month.

Tony Benn, the former Labour MP and prominent voice of the Left, today anoints Mr Bercow as the only candidate to challenge the “over-centralised and over-powerful executive”, he says in a letter to The Times.

The three front-runners, Mr Bercow, Mrs Beckett and Sir George Young, made significant claims from the additional costs allowance, of between £15,000 and £22,000. Ms Widdecombe, another candidate with growing support, claimed a few hundred pounds for the past two years.

Sir Michael Lord and Sir Alan Haselhurst claimed significant sums for gardening. Mrs Beckett who submitted claims for “tree and hedge” work.

The revelations raise questions over whether several candidates for Speaker will have the moral authority to clean up Parliament after MPs were humiliated by the official publication of their expense claims.

The claims

Douglas Alexander claimed £371 for a new garage door to replace a rotten one. In April 2007 he claimed £420 for another one, this time with a gloss coat of paint. He also charged 43p for a box of rubber bands and £7.83 for a box of disposable latex gloves

Sarah McCarthy Fry claimed 17p for two paperclips and £3.56 on gold and silver sticky stars

Andrew George charged £4.99 for a telescopic flick duster and £31.50 for a winter candle

Ed Balls, the Education Secretary and leading Brownite, claimed £9.99 to buy The Rebels: How Blair Misled His Majority from Waterstones

Martin Horwood, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham, sent his PA away for a couple of days and spent £693.25 on the course “How to Be A Proactive PA”

Hugo Swire, Tory MP for East Devon, claimed £24.50 for an orchid plant for his office in 2005

David Cameron, the Tory leader, claimed £10 at the Parliamentary Bookshop for a copy of The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches

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