MPs slapped over wrist after £4.7m 'propaganda'

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The allowance, to cover the cost of sending pamphlets to constituents, was opposed by some politicians.

A number of MPs have been slapped on the wrist by the Commons sleaze watchdog for using the £10,000-a-year communication allowance for party political purposes.

Commons accounts published today show the bill for the allowance in 2007/8, its first year, was £4,699,000.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who opposed the allowance, said: "There is a legitimate role for MPs to spend money communicating with their constituents but it's very important it's not used for party political propaganda.

"The rules were not clear but they have now been tightened."

Other backbenchers spoke out against the allowance before MPs voted to give themselves the perk.

Cannock Chase Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the all-party Commons administration committee, warned it would be "an exercise in shameless self-promotion".

Parliamentary officials stressed that the bill for the allowance was offset by a fall in claims for prepaid postage and stationery and was £1.8 million, or 27 per cent, below the budget for the allowance. Members claimed an average of £7,000 each.

The accounts also show an inflationbusting rise of 4.5 per cent in public funds being ploughed into MPs' pensions to £12 million in 2007/08. Staffing allowances rose by 4.1 per cent to £55.4 million.

Expenses claimed by MPs for their second homes increased slightly and their salaries rose by 2.5 per cent.

But office costs fell 11 per cent to £11.5 million and there was a small decline in the bill for travel.

The parliamentary authorities also wrote off £661,000 over a failed intranet programme.