ON THE WOKING HOUSE:

“I spent at least half-a-million on that property, the building work lasted for two years. To say I made a huge sum of money on selling the house in Woking is completely false and she (the Daily Telegraph reporter) knows it is. It’s a gross distortion of what I told her.

ON AVOIDING CAPITAL GAINS TAX:

“You can choose any property you like to be your main residence for capital gains purposes. I don’t think I made any particular profit on the property but I’ve said I will look at the figures and decide if I need to make a donation to charity.

“Everybody that I know in terms of election for tax purposes goes for the larger property regardless of everything else. You are more likely to make a big gain on a larger property. In any event, if and when I come to sell the flat in Bournemouth, I shall be liable for capital gains tax on that one.”

ON HIS RECORD AS MP:

“I don’t think it’s for me to assess whether I’ve been a good constituency MP. I do think most people have said that I am. Even the opposition, Liberal Democrats say I’ve been a jolly good MP.”

ON REPAYING THE MONEY:

Sir John has agreed to repay £3,000 for repairs to his flat in King Edward Court, Bourne-mouth, and around £20,000 for the council tax and mortgage interest he claimed for the staff annexe at his former home in Woking. He may also make a donation to charity in respect of the capital gains tax he avoided on the Woking property, if he feels it appropriate.

“I’ve already been onto the bank, they’ve promised to lend it to me. It’s not easy to find the money, it is a very large sum. But since I made a technical error, I must repay it and I’m sorry I made that mistake.”