A HAMPSHIRE MP has cost the taxpayer more than £100,000 last year in expenses, it has been revealed.

MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, claimed £151,984 in 2018-19 according to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

The biggest chunk of the Conservative MP's expenses (£107,713) covered her staff costs with £17,550 claimed for accommodation rent and £560 for her constituency office.

Ms Nokes' office costs came to a total of £14,818, where £2,544 was claimed for stationary and £1,145 was spent on printing updated leaflets.

Ms Nokes claimed £10,434 in total for travel expenses, with £4,387 being used for her own car.

The MP also claimed £2,119 for parking and £149 in congestion charges.

However, from 2017-18 Ms Nokes claimed £158,392, meaning she claimed £6,408 less the following year.

From 2016-17 Ms Nokes claimed £161,180, while in 2015-16 the MP claimed £183,741.

Ms Nokes said: "You will be able to see from a comparison of the different expense categories that the vast bulk of my expenses are in staff costs.

"That is salaries for my hard working staff members who respond to constituent enquiries.

"I was very proud last year to have been judged one of the top three MPs in the country for responsiveness, and of course part of that is having good staff who are able to reply to people promptly and efficiently.

"I have looked at the expenses for all my neighbouring MPs and believe I compare fairly well - with only Julian Lewis from New Forest East claiming less in total."

IPSA are responsible for publishing all MPs' claims and expenses. They aim to ensure MPs' use of taxpayers' money is well regulated.

This comes after Ms Nokes stormed to victory in the General Election on December 16.

Ms Nokes has been the MP for Romsey and Southampton North since 2010 after gaining the seat from the Liberal Democrats, won the seat for the fourth time after bagging 27,862 votes.

In 2017, Ms Nokes secured 28,668 votes, which is approximately three percent down on the last election.