Simon Danczuk claims over £200,000 in expenses

Simon Danczuk MP

In addition to his £66,396 salary, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk claimed over £200,000 in expenses in 2013/14, figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority reveal.

Mr Danczuk claimed a total of £205,460.71 - the sixth highest expenses claim of all 650 MPs - including £27,587.46 on overnight accommodation and £14,106.54 on travel.

The largest item of expenditure paid for by the taxpayer to Mr Danczuk was to cover his staffing costs, £141,108.25.

Taxpayers also paid between £25,000 and £30,000 to Mr Danczuk's wife, Karen, whom he employs as a 'caseworker'.

As a parliamentary candidate during Paul Rowen's tenure as MP for Rochdale, Mr Danczuk was highly critical of Mr Rowen's expense claims. In 2009, his last year as MP, Mr Rowen claimed £164,139, over £41,000 less than Mr Danczuk claimed last year.

Simon Danczuk said: “My expenses cover staffing and the running of very busy constituency and London offices. Over the last year we have managed a very high volume of casework, which has seen us secure the conviction and subsequent imprisonment of a Sri Lankan politician for the murder of a Rochdale Red Cross worker, tackle several high profile child abuse cases, which have resulted in Greater Manchester Police launching new criminal investigations and also handle the case of Sheila Holt, which resulted in a Government minister making a public apology for the way she was hounded by Government agencies while she was in a coma.

“My office is open five days a week and we manage cases concerning issues like immigration, housing, the environment, anti-social behaviour, policing, domestic violence and business rates on a daily basis.

“I am confident that I provide much better value for money and deliver a far better service than my predecessor.”

Mr Danczuk added that his wife ceased to be a full time employee some time ago and is now employed for four hours a week.