Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe claimed more money on parliamentary expenses in the last year than any of the district’s other elected members.

Mr Sutcliffe, who has been an MP for 17 years, claimed £126,585.14 in 2010/11. Keighley’s Conservative MP former Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins, accrued the smallest amount, £88,308.69.

The annual figures for every MP in the country have been published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Two years on from the expenses scandal which led to numerous MPs returning money they were not entitled to claim, Mr Sutcliffe said every elected member was aware of the extra pressure to spend wisely.

He said: “I think it has affected all MPs to watch what we spend. I employ three people to run an effective office and I travel second class on the train. I have cut where I can but there is a balance to be drawn to maintain an effective service.

“We moved from the constituency office from Kirkgate to the Gumption Centre this year so that will be where the bulk of the increase has come from.”

Shipley’s Conservative MP Philip Davies spent the second most. His accommodation costs of £15,078.27 were the highest in the district.

He said: “My accommodation costs are exactly the same as they have been for the last six years.

“I have just moved because I couldn’t claim for mortgage interest any more so I’ve had to rent somewhere so my accommodation costs will be even higher in future.

“My aim is to give my constituents the best possible service and what I would say is that you judge the input with the output. It would be easy to generate the lowest expenses by not going to things but what I try to do is generate the best possible service and by doing so give the best value for money.”

Labour’s Bradford West MP Marsha Singh claimed the third highest. His total of £103,159.16 included low travel expenses, of just over £500, but the highest staffing costs, close to £94,000.

Bradford East MP David Ward claimed £102,942.56. He accrued more in general administration costs – £10,031.20 – than other local MPs.

Elsewhere, Halifax MP Linda Riordan claimed £118,754.37, Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood claimed £118,198.04, Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker claimed £113,889.16, Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland claimed £111,735.15, Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew claimed £101,042.48 and Skipton MP Julian Smith claimed £97,169.70.

  • Read more in Friday’s T&A