Tory MPs to repay another £125,000

The repaid money brings the total to almost £260,000 returned to the Commons authorities and HM Revenue and Customs by Tories since the expenses scandal began.

In addition, the party said its MPs had agreed to forgo future second home allowances totalling £100,000.

Mr Cameron said the Conservatives were "taking a lead" on expenses by considering whether claims had been "disproportionate" and not just whether they fell within the rules.

But critics accused Mr Cameron of coming down hard on veteran backbenchers, while giving an easy ride to allies like shadow chancellor George Osborne and opposition whip Bill Wiggin - whose claims for mortgage interest have hit the headlines in recent weeks.

Labour backbencher John Mann said: "David Cameron can't talk tough on expenses if he is going soft on the extraordinary claims from people like George Osborne. While backbenchers and veteran MPs bear the brunt of these repayments, it looks like those close to Cameron - close friends like Osborne and Wiggin or former aide Andrew MacKay - are being given a free pass.

"That's despite the fact that his shadow chancellor still hasn't explained why he took out a taxpayer-funded mortgage worth more than his second home."

The biggest single repayment announced was £25,000 in capital gains tax returned by shadow justice minister Eleanor Laing. The Epping Forest MP had been at the centre of a storm over the tax when it was revealed that she made a reported £1 million profit on the sale of a second home, which she flipped to her main residence.

Bill Cash, MP for Stone, agreed to repay the £15,000 second home allowance he controversially claimed to pay his daughter for renting her London flat, while his son lived in the MP's own apartment. Bournemouth West MP Sir John Butterfill is to pay back a further £14,478, relating to claims for mortgage interest and council tax on an annexe to his house used as servants' quarters. He had already repaid £3,000, according to the Conservatives.

Ex-minister John Gummer is to repay £11,538 received for gardening and household expenses - half of his 2007-08 allowance claim. He hit the headlines when the Daily Telegraph said he claimed for removing moles from his garden. And Gosport MP Sir Peter Viggers - who notoriously had a claim for a floating duck house rejected - is to repay £10,000 in claims for garden maintenance and repairs.