PAUL ROWEN initially stayed in hotels when he first became MP for Rochdale in May 2005.

But in 2006 he bought a flat in Battersea in addition to his main home in his constituency.

He had stayed in hotels close to the Commons where his room rate varied from between £60 to £80. He claimed £5,484 between May 2005 and March 2006.

He claimed around £1,200 on his interest-only mortgage each month during 2006 and 2007 - totalling more than £15,000 a year - but he says this is now £125 a month.

When he bought the property he claimed £9,155 on stamp duty, £220 on land registry and £42 on local searches.

In April 2006 Mr Rowen spent £600 having the flat decorated and £250 on paint, £105 on bedding, £171 in curtains and £328 on a table.

He spent £4,400 on furniture, bedding and decorating between May 2005 and March 2008 including £2,100 on a bed, mattress, wardrobe and bedside cabinet, £258 on a video and DVD player, £138 on a vacuum cleaner and £49 on a bin.

He has promised to publish his 2008/9 expenses as soon as they are confirmed by the Fees Office and every three months from now on.

Mr Rowen said: "We have to clean up the way the whole place is run."