OFFICIAL figures have been released for the expenses claimed by St Helens MPs to cover costs such as running their offices, staffing and travel.

MPs are entitled to make claims for amounts of money each year, with the total expenses claimed for all MPs in the financial year 2021-2022 totalling more than £135m.

Both St Helens MPs claimed well below an MP's average claim of £208,242.50 in 2022.

So what do the figures show?

The figures released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) show that MP for St Helens North Conor McGinn’s business costs for the 2022-22 financial year were £185,197.70.

Meanwhile St Helens South and Whiston MP Marie Rimmer, had costs which totalled £184,924.80.

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Business costs are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out parliamentary duties including staffing, office costs, and travel.

MPs' costs are broken down into categories and Mr McGinn spent £17,300 on his office, £137,983 on staffing, £24,092 on accommodation and £5,821 on travel.

What the MPs said

Meanwhile, Ms Rimmer spent £25,069 on her office, £136,417 for staffing, £13,227 on accommodation and £10,209 on travel.

The average MP claimed £208,242.50 in 2022. This, however, differed hugely from some MPs, with some claiming as much as £245,000 in just one month of 2022.

Explaining the costs, MP Marie Rimmer said: “These costs go towards my office, staff salaries and my work in Westminster on behalf of the constituents of St Helens South and Whiston.

“It is the greatest honour of my life to serve on behalf of my hometown in Parliament and to get help and support to as many constituents as possible."

Meanwhile Conor McGinn MP added: “Like all MPs I incur costs in relation to my duties as an MP, which in turn are published by IPSA.”

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority states: “The role of an MP is to support and represent their constituents.

'Like operating a small business'

"They have a team of approximately five staff fulfilling roles such as caseworkers or researchers, and many MPs have an office in their constituency to provide this service.

“Each MP effectively operates as a small business. The majority of MPs’ funding, 87 per cent in 2020-21, is for their staff and constituency office.

"Most people would not consider staffing and office costs to be 'expenses'. The headteacher of a school or the chief executive of a hospital wouldn’t be said to claim 'expenses' for their staff or operating costs.’’