Woolas 19th on expenses table

OLDHAM’S Phil Woolas has been revealed as one of the country’s most expensive Members of Parliament as shocking new figures show MPs claimed almost £93 million in expenses and allowances last year.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP ranks 19th out of 645 MPs, 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, ranking him 73rd most expensive, and he was ranked 36th for travel.

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.

Oldham West MP Michael Meacher ranked 397th most expensive, with a total expense and allowance bill of £141,575, which included £8,944 for staying away from home, £89,882 for staff and £10,322 for travel.

His main expenses, at £131,253 put him 433th most expensive, and for travel, where he ranked 261, he spent £9,260 on train journeys between his home and Westminster, and £866 on five journeys for his wife.

Ashton MP David Heyes, who covers Failsworth and Hollinwood, ranked 393rd most expensive with a bill of £141,756.

That figure included £22,861 for staying away from home and £81,934 on staff.

His main expenses of £130,689 ranked him 440th most expensive, and his travel costs of £11,067 ranked him at 234, with mileage between his home and Westminster costing £5,668 and rail travel £3,766.

The cost of 14 journeys for his wife cost the taxpayer £902.

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