CLAIMS made by Sussex MPs are higher now than they were before the expenses scandal.

In total Sussex MPs claimed £2.38 million in office, travel, accommodation and staff costs in 2015/16 compared to £2.32 million in 2008/9.

The claims have risen significantly from £1.78 million in the first year of the new regulatory system brought in in the wake of the dramatic revelations of 2009.

Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie with £176,000 was the county’s highest claimant for 2015/16 closely followed by Green MP Caroline Lucas and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

The trio claimed almost 50 per cent more than their most parsimonious colleagues, West Worthing MP Sir Peter Bottomley and Wealden MP Nus Ghani.

The expenses claims are in addition to the £1.15 million of salaries - bringing the total cost to taxpayers to more than £3.5 million a year.

Taking into account inflation over the intervening seven years, the 2015/16 claims are only 15 per cent lower than 2008/9’s adjusted figure which led to MPs resigning, being forced to pay back thousands of pounds and some even going to jail.

Staffing costs form the largest proportion of claims with West Worthing MP Sir Peter Bottomley calling for them to be removed from MP expenses as he believes they were misleading the public.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority said MP expenses had increased through added security which are expected to rise even more in the wake of Labour MP Jo Cox’s violent death in June.

Hove’s Peter Kyle said he only claimed for staff travel expenses, paying for his transport out of his own back pocket, kept accommodation costs low by sleeping on couches of London-based friends and fundraises for a quarter of the costs of his Church Road offices.

He said: “Each MP has a different approach to the job.

“There are MPs who are expensive but provide really good value for money and there are others who are the complete opposite.

“I could spend half what I do but I believe I would be wasting more money because I wouldn’t be able to respond quickly, provide detailed support to extremely vulnerable people and wouldn’t be able to manage the volume of work that we do.”

Ms Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Every week we are in contact with hundreds of people – many of whom need our assistance in matters such as welfare and immigration: that does cost money.

“I am concerned about the cost of politics – which is why I was one of very few MPs to donate my last salary increase to local charities.”

Sir Peter said it was unfair to compare different MPs’ claims as each MP had different personal circumstances and were at different stages of their parliamentary careers.

He added: “Sussex MPs are far less expensive than say Scottish MPs and if all MPs worked as hard as Sussex MPs, then we would have a better Parliament than we have now.”

Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell said: “‘I try to ensure I spend taxpayers’ money wisely, and the vast majority of my expenses go on staff salaries.”in Eastbourne and at Westminster, which enables me to effectively help my constituents.’

EXPENSES SCANDAL LINGERS ON FOR PUBLIC

DUCK houses, blue movies and toilet seats – the 2009 MP expenses scandal brought forth rage and surprise.

The scandal changed the relationship between voter and MP in a more profound and lasting way than even the cash for questions or sex scandals of the 1990s.

Something had to change and a new era was promised with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). Shocking misuses are now supposed to be a thing of the past with greater transparency with the worst offenders booted out by angry voters or locked up by judges.

Expense returns are less exciting to read now though some might begrudge MPs claiming for recycling bags, Argos televisions and obligatory television licences.

Others may also question why four of our MPs feel it necessary to employ their better halves.

Hove MP Peter Kyle said the aftermath of the expenses scandal still lingered among MPs and the public.

He said: “MPs just need to get over that. The only frustration for me is I’m taking the heat from the failures of previous generations of MPs.

“When somebody comes up to me, and they do, and ask are you putting that on expenses if I’m in a restaurant, or on a train, or on a bus, I have to smile and say no.”

Sir Peter Bottomley said it was time IPSA stopped misleading the public by including staff costs within expenses.

He added: “No doubt it was well-intentioned but IPSA has not been a real improvement for constituents or MPs.

“What was recommended was an allowance based scheme and what we got was an expenses based scheme.

“Most MPs have someone who works one day a week on expenses and IPSA have someone doing the same processing when in the old days I used to do my expenses in about an hour a year.”

While taxpayers may no longer be paying for extravagances that had nothing to do with MPs carrying out their everyday jobs, the fact that the expenses bill is rising will cause concern. While the Boundary Commission review will look to slash that bill in a stroke by removing 50 MPs nationally, Sussex will still have 16 MPs who will need the public to pick up their tab.

CONSTITUENCY BY CONSTITUENCY: HOW OUR MPS SPENT OUR MONEY

BRIGHTON KEMPTOWN

Simon Kirby claimed expenses totalling £148,604.94 in 2015/16 including £1,801.8 for travel, £17,428.97 for offices, £112,837.92 for staffing and £16,536.25 for accommodation.

This is a 53.8 per cent per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £147,735.01 including £2,072.80 for travel, £15,637.41 for offices, £65,012.40 for staffing and £13,856.94 for accommodation.

This is a 3 per cent increase on 2008/9 when Des Turner claimed £144,164 including for travel, for offices, for staffing and for accommodation.

BRIGHTON PAVILION

Caroline Lucas claimed expenses totalling £174,555.73 in 2015/16 including £710.89 for travel, £23,400 for offices, £139,975.84 for staffing and £10,469 for accommodation.

This is a 28.8 per cent increase on 2010/11 when she claimed £135,532.41 including £5,038.25 for travel, £20,258.41 for offices, £104,314.57 for staffing and £5,921.18 for accommodation.

And a 28.8 per cent increase on 2008/9 when David Lepper claimed £135,533.

HOVE

Peter Kyle claimed expenses totalling £133,915.02 in 2015/16 including £1,120.45 for travel, £19,649.26 for offices, £107,483.01for staffing and £5,662.3 for accommodation.

This is an 8 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Mike Weatherley claimed £123,791.36 including for £1,165.08 travel, £13,354 for offices, £95,156.78 for staffing and £14,115.50 for accommodation.

And a 0.2 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Celia Barlow claimed £134,309.

EAST WORTHING AND SHOREHAM

Tim Loughton claimed expenses totalling £159,947.35 in 2015/16 including £5,330.89 for travel, £17,092.66 for offices, £114,753.65 for staffing and £22,770.15 for accommodation.

This is a 52 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £104,945.57 including £4,331.1 for travel, £11,988.59 for offices, £68,355.46 for staffing and £20,270.42 for accommodation.

And a 10 per cent increase on 2008/9 when he claimed £145,975.

WORTHING WEST

Sir Peter Bottomley claimed expenses totalling £122,387.68 in 2015/16 including £171.58 for travel, £6,719.83 for offices, £115,496.27 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

This is a 63.7 per cent increase on 2010/11 when claimed including £1,457 for travel, £9,527.83 for offices, £63,771.04 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

This is a 3.3 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when he claimed £126,603.

LEWES

Maria Caulfield claimed expenses totalling £141,374.22 in 2015/16 including £4,527.70 for travel, £18,675.44 for offices, for £112,354.25 staffing and £5,816.83 for accommodation.

This is a 0.5 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Norman Baker claimed £140, 662.15 including £3,189.41 for travel, £23,146.35 for offices, £96,889.65 for staffing and £17,436.74 for accommodation.

And a 7 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Norman Baker claimed £152,212.

MID SUSSEX

Sir Nicholas Soames MP claimed expenses totalling £156,392.87 in 2015/16 including £1,372.95 for travel, £17,419.60 for offices, £136,943.82 for staffing and £656.50 for accommodation.

This is a 67.8 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £93,181.84 including £1,008.56 for travel, £14,242.39 for offices, £77,930.89 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 5 per cent increase on 2008/9 when he claimed £148,424.

EASTBOURNE

Caroline Ansell claimed expenses totalling £148,408.48 in 2015/16 including £5,148.80 for travel, £20,856.04 for offices, £113,468.22 for staffing and £89,35.42 for accommodation.

This is a 23.1 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Stephen Lloyd claimed £120,601.04 including £2620.94 for travel, £17,796.42 for offices, £90,730.68 for staffing and £9,453 for accommodation.

This is a 4.4 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Nigel Waterson claimed £155,232.

CRAWLEY

Henry Smith claimed expenses totalling £165,718.50 in 2015/16 including £4,784.45 for travel, £22,330.55 for offices, £138,603.50 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

This is a 65 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £100,373.62 including £3,134.60 for travel, £18,464.72 for offices, £78,774.30 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 16 per cent increase on 2008/9 when Laura Moffatt claimed £142,591.

HORSHAM

Jeremy Quin claimed expenses totalling £137,164.29 in 2015/16 including £686.15 for travel, £15,887.36 for offices, £114,945.94 for staffing and £5,644.84 for accommodation.

This is a 24.4 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Francis Maude claimed £110,247.74 including £3,384.35 for travel, £16,144.86 for offices, £83,955.96 for staffing and £6,762.57 for accommodation.

And a 7 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Francis Maude claimed £148,402.

WEALDEN

Nus Ghani claimed expenses totalling £123,397.47 in 2015/16 including £1,239.92 for travel, £10,209.05 for offices, £100,506.46 for staffing and £11,442.04 for accommodation.

This is a 32.4 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Charles Hendry claimed including £1,377.80 for travel, £4,094.30 for offices, £87,724.69 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 16.8 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Charles Hendry claimed £148,399.

BEXHILL AND BATTLE

Huw Merriman claimed expenses totalling £132,998.50 in 2015/16 including £8,613.65 for travel, £12,220.04 for offices, £107,290.81 for staffing and £4,874 for accommodation.

This is a 19 per cent increase on 2010/11 when Greg Barker claimed £110,987.66 including £2,103.52 for travel, £8,926.50 for offices, £91,282.72 for staffing and £8,674.92 for accommodation.

This is a 17 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when Greg Barker claimed £160,630.

HASTINGS AND RYE

Amber Rudd claimed expenses totalling £170,831.35 in 2015/16 including £3,051.53 for travel, £22,155.42 for offices, £135,180.27 for staffing and £10,444.13 for accommodation.

This is a 64.3 per cent increase on 2010/11 when she claimed £103,981.03 including £1,552.6 for travel, £16,154.08 for offices, £86,274.35 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 14.4 per cent increase on 2008/9 when Michael Foster claimed £149,318.

BOGNOR REGIS AND LITTLEHAMPTON

Nick Gibb claimed expenses totalling £131,265.53 in 2015/16 including £5,001.65 for travel, for £9,660.29 offices, £116,603.59 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

This is a 16.6 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £112,534.52 including £4,321.62 for travel, £20, 885.07 for offices, £87,327.83 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 17 per cent decrease on 2008/9 when he claimed £158,541.

ARUNDEL AND SOUTH DOWNS

Nick Herbert claimed expenses totalling £159,025.33 in 2015/16 including £1,450.15 for travel, £7,874.72 for offices, £149,700.46 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

This is a 80 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £88,263.12 including £974.65 for travel, £4,507.4 for offices, £82,781.07 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 12.8 per cent increase on 2008/9 when he claimed £141,036.

CHICHESTER

Andrew Tyrie who claimed expenses totalling £176,269.31 in 2015/16 including £2,111.47 for travel, £20,265.37 for offices, £134,103.28 for staffing and £19,789.19 for accommodation.

This is a 44 per cent increase on 2010/11 when he claimed £121,635.48 including £1,660 for travel, £4,230.99 for offices, £115,744.49 for staffing and £0 for accommodation.

And a 28 per cent increase on 2008/9 when claimed £136,832 including for travel, for offices, for staffing and for accommodation.