NEWLY-ELECTED MP Roberta Blackman Woods claimed for a bed, cabinet and two sofas for her second home after coming to office in May 2005.

But the MP for Durham City said she bought most of the furniture for the one-bedroom flat in London with her own money.

Her additional costs allowance file shows that she claimed for a £649 bedstead, £479 mattress and a bedside cabinet worth £299. All the items were bought from Marks and Spencer, in July 2006.

She was also reimbursed for a sofa bed for £1,095 and a £749 sofa, which were bought from the DFS furniture store.

Dr Blackman-Woods said she bought the flat herself, and furnished it with a television, white goods and other furniture at her own cost.

The records show that parliamentary accounts paid £32,242.96 to cover mortgage interest payments on the home, plus £5,503.23 for service and maintenance charges. All the costs were accrued between May 2005 and March last year.

In line with House of Commons policy, Dr Blackman- Woods charged £9,425.19 for stamp duty and fees associated with the purchase of her flat in 2005.

Before that, she had claimed £2,100 for three months’ rent on a property in the capital. Immediately after her election, she used hotels as a base for her parliamentary work – claiming back a total of £1,014.24 for nine nights of accommodation at hotels such as the Thistle Hotel, in Westminster, and the four-star The Rubens at The Palace, near Buckingham Palace.

All the claims were in accordance with expenses rules.

The Labour MP, who was among members who called for the resignation of the Speaker Michael Martin earlier this week, said she now plans to make her expenses available to the public as a matter of course, and may arrange to have them on display in libraries in Durham.

“I have always been open, honest and transparent about the expenses and allowances I have claimed since serving as Durham’s MP,” she said.

“I have had details of my expenses on my website for many years. I believe this is the right thing to do, and I support the publication of claims under the Freedom of Information Act.

“When I bought my flat, I also bought items which I thought were essential. All other items I bought personally and did not claim for, even though some of them may have fallen into the ‘essential’ category.”

May 2005 to March 31 2008

Mortgage: £32,242.96.
Service and Maintenance: £5,503.23.
Food: £8,900.
Other (including furniture): £3,351.