Fury over Westminster gravy train

The politicians, who last year pocketed an average of £204,000 in pay and perks, have hired their wives, husbands, children - and in some cases parents - as research assistants and secretaries.

A total of four cabinet ministers have ensured their work remains a family affair. The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott recently declared that his son David is a member of his Commons team.

The 36-year-old former journalist and public relations consultant is named as being a member of Mr Prescott's private staff on September's register of MP's staff.

At the time, it was reported that he was employed by his father as a 'media monitor' in the wake of his affair with diary secretary Tracey Temple.

It prompted accusations that the Deputy Prime Minister had abused his position by giving him a coveted lobby pass to the House of Commons.

The Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who has recording the highest staff expenses of any MP at £99,589, has also been criticised for employing her husband Leo to run her constituency office.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain lists his elderly 79-year-old mother Adelaine as a member of his Commons staff list, while the International Development Secretary Hilary Benn employs his brother Stephen.

And Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, employs his sister-in-law Anne 'Dodie' McGuinness as his sole member of staff.

Despite refusing to take his seat in the Commons along with his other Sinn Fein colleagues, Mr McGuinness claimed an astonishing £64,272 last year in staff costs. It is not clear how much of this goes directly to Mrs McGuinness.

The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Lidington said: "We have consistently said that Sinn Fein MPs should not be paid parliamentary salaries or be allowed to claim expenses while they refuse to take their seats in parliament."

The register also shows that at least five MPs employ more than one relative to work in their Westminster offices.

Traditionally, Tory MPs have employed their wives in their private offices as research assistants, but the new figures show that up to 27 Labour MPs have relatives on staff compared to around 18 Conservative MPs and just one Liberal Democrat.

Campaigners last night accused the politicians of using taxpayers' money to fund their family finances.

Husband and wife Labour MPs Alan and Ann Keen, whose constituencies are side by side in West London, claimed £30,288 for a Central London flat even though they live only nine miles from Westminster. Mr Keen also employs the couple's son David as his fulltime assistant.

Many of the relatives work part-time or are not paid, but it is not known which ones are pocketing taxpayers' cash because details of their salaries are not made public.

MPs claim that the relatives carry out essential duties ranging from administrative tasks to tackling constituents' problems and represent good value for money.

But critics say payroll information for MPs staff should be made public.

Taxpayers' Alliance spokesman Blair Gibbs said: "Thanks to higher taxes, we all have to make an extra effort to budget, but some politicians are using taxpayers' money to pay for their own family members.

"These new revelations will only make the public more convinced of the need for real transparency - total figures aren't enough. It is our money, so it is only fair that we are allowed to see exactly how our money is spent, and who benefited."

Information campaigner Heather Brooke, from the website Your Right to Know, says: "These people are paid for with our money and we have a right to know who they are and what they are doing."

A spokesman for Mr Prescott's office last night insisted that David Prescott was not a fulltime member of staff. He said: "David Prescott was given a lobby pass for two weeks over the summer. It is my understanding that he was not paid. He is not a member of Mr Prescott's staff."