IPSA have released this year’s expenses figures. Here are the top five troughers:

• Greg Mulholland, LibDem, £188,783
• Stephen Gilbert, LibDem, £185,811
• Alistair Carmichael*, LibDem, £185,389
• Brian Donohoe, Labour, £182,003
• Willie Bain, Labour, £180,923

Once again Tory MP Philip Hollobone was the lowest claimant at just seven grand.

More to come this afternoon…

*Carmichael has to fly to Orkney and Shetland so has an excuse for high travel expenses.

UPDATE: Greg Mulholland’s office has sent Guido this statement explaining his high costs:

Mr Mulholland’s staffing costs were higher in 2011-12 than in previous years as a result of the ongoing health problems of two members of staff in his constituency office, both of whom were unable to work for more than six months.    To ensure that he could continue to fulfil his parliamentary duties and work on behalf of his constituents he had no option but to apply to IPSA’s contingency budget, which provides additional funding to employ temporary staff to cover for sickness absence.   The additional costs were closely scrutinised and approved by IPSA.   Mr Mulholland is pleased that these problems of ill health have now passed and anticipates that his staffing costs will return to normal in the current year.