Tim Farron's MP expenses revealed in latest figures

Mr Farron's office claimed £47,970.80 for 428 items from April 1 2022 to March 31 2023. 

Parliament publishes expenses publicly each year so that constituents can hold their MP to account over how much money is being spent to run their office and travel costs. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority regulates and administers MPs' business expenses and staffing costs. 

His travel claims were £15,577.53 - his constituency is 224 miles from parliament. He also claimed £13,529.21 for accommodation fees.

The amount he claimed for 2022-23 is significantly less than in previous years, but it was above the total average for MPs of £46,830.52. 

Between March 2020 and March 2021, he claimed £249,444.28. 

Mr Farron said: "I always keep the costs that my office and I incur as low as possible. So for example when I get the train down to London from Oxenholme every week, I travel in standard not first class.

“When I’m in London, I rent a small flat which works out a lot cheaper than booking a hotel which is what some other MPs do.

“One of the biggest expenditures is on staffing. My team are absolutely pivotal to me being able to fight for local residents whenever they come to me for help. That’s why I was so proud of my head of casework Jude who was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours list for services to people here in our area.

“These expenses are all essential to me being able to represent Westmorland down in Westminster on the issues that matter to local people, whether it be health, housing or the sewage scandal.”

The neighbouring Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell also claimed above the average, at £57,624.80.

He said: "The vast majority of these business costs are the salaries of my team of staff who help constituents on a wide range of fronts, from constituency surgeries to working with them on individual cases and supporting me in going on to raise those cases in Parliament and with ministers."