The pressure on Labour MP Andrew Dismore to step down from the Standards and Privileges Committee is increasing as his explanations unravel.  Guido noted Dismore’s ridiculously high transport claims as far back as 2004:

“Now you can believe that travel costs for Scottish MPs would be higher – if they choose not to let the train take the strain with their free travel warrants – claiming that oh so generous mileage allowance. But Andrew Dismore in Hendon must travel by helicopter – London’s most expensive MP drew £147,650 in expenses last year on top of his salary of £54,725. Nevertheless his attendance record is pretty poor, despite being a London MP he manages to come in the bottom half of attendees, missing a third of all votes. The 35 minute journey on the Tube would cost £20 a week if he came in every day – which he clearly doesn’t – so for the period parliament sits it would cost around £700 – yet his travel expenses are £4,959.”

The Telegraph’s Jon Swaine has hit Dismore again this morning: “Regarding his travel expenses, Mr Dismore said he needed to drive around his constituency throughout the year. He said that he recorded his mileage precisely and was sometimes forced to make three return journeys between Westminster and Hendon in a single day.” Well if he does all that daily driving around his constituency, why does he need a second home elsewhere in London?