Southampton's MPs cost the taxpayer more than half a million pounds in the last financial year

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show the three MPs' total business costs for the 2019-20 financial year were £557,637.57.

The figures showed that the MP who cost the taxpayer the most was Southampton Test representative Alan Whitehead.

The Southampton, Test MP's costs were well above the average for other members of parliament elected before December 2019, of £188,295.

Alan Whitehead

Labour MP Alan Whitehead spent £176,609.28 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £155,564.58 on staff wages and £21,044.70 on other office expenditures.

He spent £20,322.53 of his accommodation budget (of £22,920), and a further £3,544.65 on travel and subsistence.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show the Labour MP's total business costs for the 2019-20 financial year were £200,476.46.

He was followed by Caroline Nokes, Romsey and Southampton North MP, whose total business costs for the 2019-20 financial year were £182,121.55.

Caroline Nokes - UK Parliament official portraits 2017.

The Tory MP spent £156,211.47 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £142,771.7 on staff wages and £13,439.77 on other office expenditures.

She spent £15,652.34 of her accommodation budget (of £17,787.46), and a further £10,257.74 on travel and subsistence.

Royston Smith, MP for Southampton Itchen, cost the tax payers £175,039.56 for the 2019-20 financial year.

Royston Smith.

The Conservative MP spent £150,091.02 on office running costs in 2019-20, including £136,986.44 on staff wages and £13,104.58 on other office expenditures.

He spent £19,424.23 of his accommodation budget (of £22,920), and a further £5,524.31 on travel and subsistence.

Both Caroline Nokes and Royston Smith were below the average for other members of parliament elected before December 2019, of £188,295.

By comparison, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has cost £259,057 over the same time, and Philip Hollobone, Conservative MP for Kettering, just £78,960.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Alan Whitehead told our reporter: "The full amount is itemised on the IPSA website but most of the money is spent on the business of staffing and running my busy constituency office where we deal with thousands of constituent cases every year.

"This includes rent, letters to constituents and other office supplies and costs, electricity for example. The rest is attributed to my work in parliament, my accommodation there and my travel to and from the constituency which I do by train and a staff member who supports my work there."

Both Caroline Nokes and Royston Smith were approached by the Daily Echo for a comment but they did not respond.