It’s been ten years since the parliamentary expenses scandal first broke - and to mark a decade since the scandal we looked at data from
Parliament to find out how much MPs in our area claim nowadays.
The expenses system has been radically changed since it emerged in 2009 that some MPs had received money for items such as televisions, Persian rugs and, in one case, a duck pond.
Most of the money they claim now is for staff salaries, and MPs often object to the idea that employing researchers and constituency workers amounts to receiving expenses.
The most expensive MP in Birmingham was Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Perry Barr. Between January and December last year he
claimed £210,183 on expenses.
The majority of that was spent on staffing costs, which were responsible for £170,556 of the amount claimed.
Some £3,564 went on travel, £18,883 on accommodation, and £10,875 on office costs.
The second most expensive MP in our area was Yardley’s Jess Phillips (Lab). She claimed a total £207,157 in expenses in 2018 - again most of which was spent on staffing costs (£157,490).
Another £24,269 was claimed for office costs, £21,696 for accommodation and £3,626 for travel.
Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Ladywood, claimed £203,563. Liam Byrne, the Labour MP for Hodge Hill, claimed £202,238, and Richard Burden, Labour MP for Northfield, claimed £187,664.
On the other hand, Edgbaston MP Preet Gill (Lab) claimed £141,830, making her Birmingham’s least expensive MP.
Erdington MP Jack Dromey claimed £104 for money spent on Facebook advertisements - the only Birmingham MP to do so.
The average cost of expenses claimed in 2018 works out as £158,264 for every UK MP claiming.
And the total across the House of Commons total works out at a whopping £120 million placed on the register since January 2018.
However, nearly half of that (£91 million) was money to pay MPs' staff, and a further £12 million went on office costs.
Another £4 million went on “winding up costs” for MPs who no longer sit in the commons.
IPSA was set up after the scandal in 2009, and collates records on every MP expenses claim.
The latest information only goes up to December 7, which means it’s likely figures for the year will change as more expenses are added.
Mr Mahmood said: "MPs don't claim most of this money in expenses. The money doesn't actually come to us.
"This is staffing costs. It goes to staff.
"MPs employ staff to assist them in their work in Parliament, such as carrying out research.
"We also employ people to answer constituents' queries, and take part in surgeries.
"I have an open-door policy. If any of my constituents need help, the office is open Monday to Friday.
"The demand for help with issues such as housing and immigration is quite significant.
"I employ staff in the office to help with casework. It would be totally wrong to think this money is going to me."
He said he expected his staffing costs to be lower this year than last year.
| MP's name | Constituency | Amount claimed Jan to Dec 2018 |
| Khalid Mahmood | Perry Barr | £210,183 |
| Jess Phillips | Yadley | £207,157 |
| Shabana Mahmood | Ladywood | £203,563 |
| Liam Byrne | Hodge Hill | £202,238 |
| Richard Burden | Northfield | £187,664 |
| Andrew Mitchell | Sutton Coldfield | £172,360 |
| Jack Dromey | Erdington | £171,620 |
| Roger Godsiff | Hall Green | £167,072 |
| Steve McCabe | Selly Oak | £151,291 |
| Preet Gill | Edgbaston | £141,830 |
