Borough's MP's claim more than £450,000 on expenses

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, whose constituency covers Milnrow and Newhey, claimed £466,450 on expenses last year.

Shocking new figures show MPs claimed almost £93 million in expenses and allowances last year.

Mr Woolas was the most expensive MP in the borough, claiming £169,427, which includes travel costs of £20,379, the cost of staying away from his main home at £23,083, and staffing costs of £88,848.

His main expenses, which exclude travel, amounted to £149,048.

Travel costs included £9,462 spent on trains and £2,968 on flights between his home and Westminster, £580 spent on 10 journeys for his wife, and £899 for 12 family journeys.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen had a total expense and allowance bill of £164,139, which included £23,083 for staying away from home, £88,468 for staff, £22,994 for office running costs and £12,223 for travel.

His main expenses were £151,916 and for travel he spent £12,223, which included £6,817 on train journeys between his home and Westminster.
 
Mr Rowen said: “These figures are the result of another year’s hard graft. My staff and I work incredibly hard for the people of Rochdale both locally and nationally. I am happy to put my record on public display and will continue to work hard for the people of Rochdale all year round. 

“My expenses have risen because I have taken on two extra part time workers to cope with demand. I employ a researcher in London and three full time staff at my office on Drake Street and two part time staff. My expenses reflect how busy we have been representing Rochdale.

“I am acutely aware that the recent allegations of MPs abusing their position do not do politics or politicians any good. I am afraid that there are a minority of Labour and Conservative MPs who have let Parliament down and I fully back an independent enquiry into MPs expenses as soon as possible.”

Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin had a bill of £132,884.

That figure included £9,425 for staying away from home, £16,088 on office running costs and £95,754 on staff.

His main expenses were £123,754 and his travel costs were £9,130, with mileage between his home and Westminster costing £6,564.

The cost of 4 journeys for his wife cost the taxpayer £564.

The figures show the overall bill for MPs expenses and allowances soared by 6% last year, and have led to renewed demands for the Westminster gravy train to be halted.