A BOURNEMOUTH MP has become the latest to publish details of his expense claims, including a £1,100 bed and mattress and almost £1,000 worth of furnishings.

Since 2005/06, Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood has claimed for £250 of roof repairs, £882 of curtains, £1,960 of carpets, and a £1,145 bed and mattress.

He also claimed a £93 mirror, £158 vacuum cleaner, furnishings totalling £949 and £226 for home decorating.

Publishing the figures on his website, Mr Ellwood also voluntarily revealed that he made inquiries to the Fees Office in 06/07 to see if he could claim for renovating his loft access and installing a skylight in the bathroom.

This request was refused, as they were deemed to be capital improvements rather than essential repairs, although the refusal letter did inform Mr Ellwood that if he increased his mortgage to pay for the work, he could get the interest repaid. He did not do this.

Mr Ellwood, who held a public meeting last night to explain his expenses to residents, also refuted any suggestion of “flipping” after switching the designation of his second home from London to Bournemouth.

Upon completing this switch, his mortgage interest claims doubled from around £10,000 per year to £21,000.

But Mr Ellwood pointed out he has never sold any properties during his time as an MP and has never claimed stamp duty, legal or accountancy fees.

He also said he could have been accused of “flipping” if he had chosen to designate Bournemouth as his second home from the outset, as this property was not in his name and was only a temporary solution until he purchased his own property in Strouden in 2006/07.

He said: “I, along with all other Conservatives, are going before our own commission, who are assessing all the details. I will abide by whatever they say.

“I’ve done my best to work, not only within the rules, but within the spirit of the rules.

“It’s the spirit of the rules that has clearly been breached and led to widespread corruption.”

A report from last night's meeting will online shortly