ANDOVER’S MP cost the taxpayer more than Prime Minister Boris Johnson, new figures have revealed. 

Kit Malthouse, who is the minister for crime reduction and policing, was also the most expensive member of the Cabinet. 

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show the Conservative MP’s total business costs for the 2020-21 financial year were £244,312.05.

Business costs are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out their parliamentary duties, including staffing, office costs and travel.

In 2020-21 Mr Malthouse spent £26,600 on accommodation – his budget was £27,000.
He also spent £217,600 on office running costs, including £192,900 on staff wages and £24,700 on other office expenditures.

In the year, Mr Malthouse spent nearly £66,000 more than Mr Johnson, whose costs were £178,406. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer spent £168,109.

Speaking about the figures, Mr Malthouse said that “all claims are within the budgets provided and are scrutinised”. 

He said that most of the costs relate to his staff “who worked flat out to support me”.

You can read the full story and reaction in this week's paper. Also in this week's edition:

  • An author and presenter who grew up in Andover is launching his own television show on Sky next month. 
  • Residents of Picket Piece are up in arms against a plan to build 16 new homes on a land that they claimed was promised as ‘leisure space’ just five years ago.
  • Concerns have been raised over ‘pollution’ in the River Anton after piles of litter have remained uncleared for ‘at least six months’.
  • Concerns have been raised that Andover residents have ‘lost faith’ in their town council, as the authority prepares to develop a Back to Basics strategy. 
  • Andover BID is this week launching a new crime reporting system for businesses in the town.
  • Residents of Andover will pay the same amount to the town council as in the previous year as councillors have passed the 2022/23 budget.
  • An Andover family has been announced as the winners of the InAndover’s Nutcracker Trail that was held throughout December.
  • Hundreds of people were arrested and more than a thousand drivers were stopped in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as part of a police drink and drug driving crackdown over the festive period.
  • PLUS: Two pages of YOUR letters
  • PICTURES: Camera Club - best from the January theme
  • Kit Malthouse's January column
  • An eight-page puzzle special
  • Entertainment news
  • Sports news
  • And much, much more
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