Simon Danczuk MP claims energy bills on expenses

Simon Danczuk, Rochdale MP

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk is one of the 340 MPs who have claimed on expenses for gas and electricity bills.

Taxpayers have picked up the bill for Mr Danczuk's £392.38 claim on expenses for gas and electricity at a time of heightened tensions over spiralling costs of fuel bills.

The claim is within parliamentary rules, which allow MPs to claim up to £20,100 in expenses for second homes – having been granted a £100 rise in April.

Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin has not made a claim for his energy bills.

Mr Danczuk's claim was revealed in documents filed to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority between April 2012 and March 2013. Under new rules since 2010, MPs are allowed to make claims on their second homes for gas and electricity, as well as rent, hotel stays, council tax, service charges and their phone and internet. But campaigners said constituents would feel outraged that well-off MPs were claiming for their fuel bills when voters are struggling.