Top Taxpayer’s Alliance research out this morning reveals the average cost of each MP skyrocketed during the pandemic, from £157,747 per member in 2019-20, to £203,880 in 2020-21 – a 29% increase. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to co-conspirators, given Guido’s repeated coverage of boosts to their expense allowances:

• In March 2020 he was the first to reveal MPs had been granted a £10,000 increase in their monthly credit card limit
• In May 2020 rules changed to allow MPs to claim for private taxis instead of having to use public transport – a rule change not reversed until March 2021
• In June 2020 MPs’ staff started receiving a £312 “annual homeworking bonus” to cover home telephone usage, internet, electricity and gas – all tax-free
• In August 2020 MPs began being able to pay for professional cleaning of their taxpayer-funded London pads when moving out

This goes without mentioning the new funding for extra staff and, of course, Airpod-gate. 

Now the TPA has put together a list of Britain’s most expensive MPs, which can be read in full below. Coming in at number one is Anna Soubry’s replacement in Broxtowe, Darren Henry, who racked up a total of £280,936. This compares to the least expensive, Philip Hollobone, who spent £80,709. Kit Malthouse takes the crown for most expensive MP attending cabinet. 

This year’s figures are especially interesting as, for once, they’re not dominated by Scottish and Northern Irish MPs, who usually take all the top spots thanks to their high travel costs. The virtual parliament has, however, allowed Britain’s biggest spending MPs to really shine through…

Top ten MPs with the highest levels of spending, 2020-21

• Darren Henry, Broxtowe – £280,936
• Damien Moore, Southport – £266,092
• Owen Thompson, Midlothian – £264,347
• David Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale – £260,952
• Brendan Clarke-Smith, Bassetlaw – £256,925
• Khalid Mahmood, Birmingham Perry Barr – £259,889
• James Daly, Bury North – £256,855
• Chris Loder, West Dorset – £256,176
• Jon Trickett, Hemsworth – £254,533
• John Healey, Wentworth and Dearne – £253,716

Top ten MPs with the lowest levels of spending, 2020-21

• Philip Hollobone, Kettering – £80,709
• John Redwood, Wokingham – £106,682
• Edward Argar, Charnwood – £112,037
• Jerome Mayhew, Broadland – £116,820
• Adam Afriyie, Windsor – £117,095
• Desmond Swayne, New Forest West – £117,698
• Jesse Norman, Hereford and South Herefordshire – £118,679
• Alex Burghart, Brentwood and Ongar – £120,498
• Gordon Henderson, Sittingbourne and Sheppey – £121,641
• Graham Stringer, Blackley and Broughton – £122,171

Methodology: MPs salaries – £81,932 – are not included; 28 MPs who lost their seats in 2019 had wind-up costs, which totalled £47,999.61 – they have not been included.