A NEW kitchen, new bathroom and almost £8,000 on food in just three years.

Sir John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West, spent a total of £5,347.36 on a new birch-effect and white-gloss kitchen, complete with £337.16 stainless steel microwave, £294.61 dishwasher, £15 bin and £13.48 chopping board.

He also spent a total of £6,930.34 on replacing and renovating the bathroom at his Bournemouth basement flat and £2,233.35 on a new gas boiler.

Sir John came under fire when it was revealed that he had previously designated his Surrey mansion as his second home for parliamentary purposes but his main home for tax purposes.

This meant he was able to claim for the upkeep and renovation of the property but was not liable for capital gains tax when he sold it.

The official figures published by parliament yesterday do not cover this period but they do reveal some previously unnoticed claims.

Sir John claimed £289 for a digital camera and £35 for a memory card under the Incidental Expenses Provision, along with £390 for a Daily Echo subscription.

Other claims were £645.08 for a printer, plus £175 for an extended warranty, £1,500 in costs associated with setting up his website and £140 for a copy of Who’s Who.