MPs expenses: 26 politicians 'named and shamed' for not repaying debts to the taxpayer

The parliamentary expenses watchdog has named a total of 26 MPS who have failed to repay their debts of up to £300 despite being contacted "several times about these outstanding sums". The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has "named and shamed" the MPs who have forced them to cancel more than £2,000 owed to the taxpayer as the cost of recovering their bills is no longer "cost effective".

Daniel Poulter, Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, was found to have failed to repay the most amount of money at £229.62, whereas Bournemouth East's Tory MP Tobias Ellwood owed the least, with £4.50.

In total, Ipsa was forced to write off £2,105.43 in MP debts in the last financial year, with the total costs of MPs' expenses rising by £1.7m to £106m in 2014-15 compared to the previous year.

IPSA chief executive Marcial Boo said: "As the regulator of the public funds that go to MPs, Ipsa ensures that taxpayers' money is used transparently, and that MPs are appropriately resourced to carry out their parliamentary functions. Our regular publications include every single penny claimed by MPs, so that taxpayers and voters can see for themselves how their money is spent and gain assurance that Ipsa is scrutinising MPs' expenditure on their behalf."

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "MPs clearly need a properly-resourced office to help them carry out their parliamentary and constituency duties, although they must always seek to achieve value for the taxpayers' money they are spending.

"At first glance, these latest figures are to be welcomed since MPs appear to have kept costs under control, effectively reducing the total spent on running their offices after inflation is taken in to account. It remains a matter of concern that Ipsa has had to write off debts amounting to more than £2,000.

If the expenses scandal taught MPs anything, it should be that the public expect the very highest standards of probity and integrity when it comes to making claims on the taxpayer. Any of the MPs or living former MPs still owing money to the authorities should pay what is due immediately."