MP 'claimed thousands for garden'

Millionaire Mr Duncan recouped £4,000 over three years.

However, a £3,194 bill for gardening in March 2007 was not paid after officials responded suggesting that the claim might not be "within the spirit" of the rules, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Duncan apparently submitted receipts indicating his gardener was being paid £6 an hour for up to 16 hours a week, even though the property had grounds of less than an acre. In March 2007, Mr Duncan claimed £598 to overhaul a ride-on lawn-mower and then a further £41 to fix a puncture a month later.

Shadow minister David Willetts claimed £115 plus VAT to replace 25 light bulbs at his second home in west London.

Tory Chris Grayling received thousands of pounds to renovate a London flat 17 miles from his constituency home. He apparently already owned three properties within the M25, but bought the flat with loans subsidised by the taxpayer.

Francis Maude claimed almost £35,000 over two years for a mortgage on a London flat a few minutes walk from a house he already owned and then rented out. The taxpayer footed the £387.50 bill for moving his effects down the road.

George Osborne put in a £440.62 bill for a chauffeur company to drive him from Cheshire to London. Cheryl Gillan spent £4.47 of taxpayers' money on dog food, while Oliver Letwin claimed more than £2,000 to replace a leaking pipe under his tennis court.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has faced fresh embarrassment after a note explaining how he should apply his make-up was accidentally left in a taxi by a junior aide.

The confidential file, handed to The Sun newspaper by the cab driver, also contained notes on how to tackle the Westminster expenses claims controversy and a schedule for Mr Brown's visit to Yorkshire.