Andrew Robathan is one of the many MPs who believe that they would suffer without help with their mortgage.

The Conservative MP for Blaby claimed more than £3,300 per month in mortgage interest payments on a £2 million London townhouse before changing his second home to a new property in his constituency in May 2004.

Although this resulted in his mortgage payments being more than halved, to £1,250 a month, he continued to claim the maximum permitted under the “additional costs allowance” each year, with claims for food, cleaning and refurbishments of the Leicestershire farmhouse.

Mr Robathan, who in Sir Thomas Legg’s report has been asked to provide mortgage interest statements for his second home, told The Times: “If the Kelly report says we cannot claim mortgage interest on second homes it would affect me tremendously. Of course, I could rent or stay in a Travelodge — when I was a candidate I used to stay in a B&B. But I can’t afford to keep two homes.

“My main place of work is in London and I want to see my wife and children during the week. My daughter is at school in London.”

Mr Robathan, 58, is one of 202 MPs who employ a relative to assist him with his parliamentary duties; in his case his wife, Rachel, works as a part-time senior parliamentary assistant.

According to Mr Robathan, there should be a review of MPs’ salaries, and reform of the system beyond that offered by Legg or Kelly. “I don’t want to get any expenses,” he said. The additional costs allowance should go, “otherwise it’ll keep journalists busy for years and years.

“We need to look at what sort of people we want as MPs and what sort of salary we should pay them.”

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