NORTH Essex MP Bernard Jenkin said he is devastated at the latest revelations about his expenses claims.

The Tory MP has defended his decision to claim back almost £50,000 to cover rent on a farmhouse in Hatfield Peverel which belongs to his sister-in-law and is not even in his constituency.

Figures released by the Daily Telegraph suggest he paid as much as £1,250 a month on the property, then claimed it back as a second home allowance.

Mr Jenkin, whose first home is in Kennington, South London, fell foul of the Green Book rules which state MPs cannot rent property from family members.

He said: “The House of Commons Fees Office told me on Tuesday the arrangement I had for my Essex home would no longer be valid.

“There is absolutely no suggestion of property speculation or phantom mortgages, just an honest and reasonable rent.

“I have devoted my life to public service and I now find myself devastated.”

He added: “I have called for the most sweeping changes during a debate on April 30.

“Things like the second home allowance and the communications allowance should be abolished.

“I have argued our expenses should be properly vetted, and not by the House of Commons.

“MPs should be subject to the same rules as other citizens.”

Mr Jenkin faces questions over the payments to his sister-in-law who, it is understood, does not have a mortgage on the property and lives in a castle in Scotland.

The nearest part of Mr Jenkin’s constituency, Inworth, is about nine miles up the A12 from Hatfield Peverel.

The Gazette revealed recently Mr Jenkin claimed for a flat screen TV, gardening work and window cleaning.

He admitted he spent £760 on the television for his constituency home after the old one broke, and claimed £80 a month for a gardener to cut the grass at his rented home.

His total expenses claim ran to £23,083.

He said he would make a donation to charity as penance for the flatscreen TV claim.

Kevin Bentley, leader of the Conservative group on Colchester Council, said: “Bernard has a lot of support in this area because he is a hard-working member of Parliament, who has helped many people over the years.

“Having a General Election is not a bad idea, but I would hate to see support going to minority parties, particularly the right-wing minority parties.

“I trust the electorate hugely and I think it understands the candidates and what they are proposing to do.”

l Mr Bentley is standing as a Tory candidate in the county council elections on June 4 in the Stanway and Pyefleet division. His rivals are: S Cuming (BNP), M Lilley (Lab), W Shwarz (Green) and C Sykes (Lib Dem).