I SIT here in tears thinking of Tobias Ellwood, the MP for Bournemouth East.

Last year he earned a salary of £67,060 plus £20,000 for being a junior Foreign Office minister.

Its alleged he has claimed £55,828 in expenses, £27,192 in rent, £148 for taxis and £83.55 for teas.

He was a Captain in the British Army and claims he took a pay cut to become an MP.

However, a British Army Captain earns on average £45,000 per year, with no expenses, no rent paid by the taxpayer, no taxis and no free teas so I find this hard to believe.

Mr Ellwood was recently quoted as saying: “I never expected to be watching the pennies at my time of life (he’s 42) and yet this is what I have to do “ No you don’t Mr Ellwood.

People on benefits and working families about to have their tax credits curbed are the ones who have to watch the pennies.

Terence Fineran, Darlington.