Every month more than 4,000 MPs and staff get their salaries paid and business costs reimbursed, and figures released last week show how much our Teignbridge MPs cost the taxpayer.

The total cost of MPs was up 6.47 per cent last year to £127.6 million, according to data provided by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and the basic salary for an MP is £79,467.96.

For the year 2019-2020, Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris claimed £205,481.14 in expenses and staff salaries.

These included £19,699.22 for accommodation and £10,061.59 in travelling expenses.

Mrs Morris’ office costs were £23,976.64, most of which comprised rent, business rates and equipment.

Her staff – one full-time senior parliamentary assistant, one full-time and one-part-time parliamentary assistant, one full-time office manager and one full-time caseworker – along with pool staff salaries came to £151,742.99.

For the same period, Central Devon MP Mel Stride, who receives a further £1,920.92 per annum as chairman of the Treasury select committee, claimed £176,269.01 in expenses and staff salaries. These included £3,069.27 for accommodation and £4,106.19 in travelling expenses.

Mr Stride’s office expenses were £11,936.79 for the year ended 2020, the bulk of which was for rent and equipment.

His staff salaries – for one part-time senior parliamentary assistant, one full-time and one-part-time senior caseworker, and one full-time secretary along with pool staff salaries came to £145,219.97.

Expenses for neighbouring parliamentarians were: Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay, a total of £210,973.41; and Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, who was elected in December 2019, a total of £30,332.87.

The figures revealed that current speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was Britain’s most expensive sitting MP. Last year his total business costs were £259,057, including £21,431 on travel and subsistence.

The least expensive MP was Kim Johnson, elected last year for Liverpool Riverside, with total costs of £7,392 up to April 2020.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was the most expensive MP in the cabinet, with total costs of £225,305. This was compared to £174,454 for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and £164,545 for Sir Keir Starmer.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA chairman, said: ‘Taxpayers can be assured that public money has been spent appropriately by Members of Parliament, and that we have helped them to serve their constituents during the most difficult of times.’

While John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, countered: ‘While MPs must have the resources to do their jobs, many taxpayers will be worried about the growing cost of politics.

‘The electorate expects politicians to stay grounded and keep costs under control, particularly the millions spent on travel and overnight expenses. 

‘With the economy and public finances in such dire straits, limiting their expenses claims where possible would be a welcome way for MPs to show that we’re all in it together.’