THE MP for Sale East, Paul Goggins, spent more than £6,200 on a kitchen refit.

Mr Goggins said the kitchen was a discounted B&Q one that cost £2,380 when it was purchased in February 2007.

He was unable to find anyone to fit it in his London home until February 2008 when he paid £3,000 to the person who did the work and £823 for some additional equipment.

The claim included a new dishwasher, washing machine, cooker, worktop, tiles, an oven, shelves, cupboards and a ‘deluxe’ cutlery tray costing £8.

In April and May 2006 Mr Goggins spent a total of £290 on a fridge and freezer.

Other costs incurred by Mr Goggins included £1,200 a year for a cleaner and monthly food bills regularly averaging £150, reaching the £360 mark in July 2006.

Monthly mortgage payments from April 2007 to March 2008 ranged from £600 to £750.

From April 2007 to March 2008 Mr Goggins claimed a total of £20,824.05 on his second home, under an Additional Costs Allowance (ACA). From April 2006 to March 2007 this figure stood at £20,375.93.

Mr Goggins denied he had switched his designated second home to claim money for home improvements and said in a statement: “My family home is in Manchester. I have lived in the same house since 1988. I bought a house in London after my election in 1997. Both are modest terraced houses.

“All my claims for furniture, fittings and decoration have simply paid for replacements for items that were broken or worn out. Almost half the total claimed over four years was for a replacement kitchen in my London home.

“It is a standard £3,000 B&Q kitchen which cost a similar amount to install. I do not have an extravagant lifestyle but, like most of my constituents I do have decent standards. Of course, any expense in relation to my main home – my family home – comes out of my own pocket.

“One accusation in a Manchester Evening News article that I object to strongly is the reference to “flipping”. As people have come to understand this term it implies that I switched the designation of my main home and second home in order to sell and make a profit.

“From 1997 my London home was classed as my second home. When I became a minister in 2003 I was instructed to change the arrangement on the basis that ministers had to live in London.

“It was, of course, a complete nonsense that my family home was described as my second home and eventually the rule was redrawn and I was able to change back. I have never sought to sell either of my houses and my main home for allowances remains – and will remain – my main home for tax purposes.

“Politics and Parliament are in a very bad place. We have to find a way of moving forward. MPs need to be able to live and work in London but everyone needs to have confidence in the system that makes it possible.

“I will work in parliament for reform. I will work in my constituency, as I have for the last 12 years, to enhance the opportunities for local families and the wider community.”

He later said: “I have now reviewed my ACA claims for 2006 to 2008 to take account of the fact that for part of that period another person, Chris Bain, was also living at my London address.

“Between January 1998 and April 2003, Chris and I were joint owners of the property. In April 2003 I took over the whole of the mortgage and Chris retained a 25 per cent share in the value of the property.

Following my appointment as a minister, in line with the rules at that time, my London home was designated my main home. This remained the case until April 2006 and no claims were made in relation to my London home during that three-year period.

“Given that he is the part owner, Chris has every right to live at the property, and usually stays there three nights a week. He contributes to costs not claimed for but we have decided that he should have made a greater contribution to housing and other costs against which I claimed during 2006 to 2008.

“I have repaid £11,680 – representing half the costs of mortgage interest, council tax and utilities bills as well as a contribution to other claims made. Chris is now paying half of all the housing costs and so we have agreed that his share of the property will return to 50 per cent.

“Quite separately and prior to all the recent publicity about expenses, I repaid in full a rebate I received from my electricity supplier for overpayments during 2004 to 2008. The amount was £1,995.95 which I passed on to the Fees Office.”