Cost of average MP rose by almost 30 per cent during Covid pandemic, say campaigners

The cost of the average MP to the public purse soared by almost 30 per cent during Covid pandemic, campaigners have said today.

Analysis from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) campaign group of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has revealed the average cost of an MP has increased by 29 per cent over the Covid pandemic, from £157,747 in 2019-20 to £203,880 in 2020-21.

The total cost of MPs’ expenses was up 4.6 per cent on the previous year to £132.5 million, including claims for travel and food of over £2 million. A further £283,361 was spent as part of the MPs’ accommodation budget on hotel claims for just 49 members, an average of £5,783 each.

The member for Broxtowe, Darren Henry, is Britain’s most expensive MP, with a total cost of £280,936. The least expensive MP was Philip Hollobone, the member for Kettering, whose cost came to £80,709.

Christian Wakeford, the MP for Bury South- who made headlines this week by defecting from the Conservatives to Labour- was in the top 10 biggest spenders for travel and food costs at £13,899.

Minister of state for crime and policing, Kit Malthouse, is the most expensive MP who attends cabinet, with a total of £244,312. This was compared to £178,406 for the prime minister Boris Johnson and £168,019 for Sir Keir Starmer.