Shotley peninsula's MP James Cartlidge claimed more than £200,000 expenses in a year, including having energy costs paid, according to latest figures available.

Between October 2021 and September 2022, the amount expenses South Suffolk MP was paid totalled £202,957.89, as highlighted on the MP Expenses info, website.

The largest chunk of the expense claim, £157,054, was for staffing costs, while he was paid £28,636,80 to cover the costs of his £2,708.33 per month London flat.

Tax-payers stumped up £1,080.16 to pay his council tax bill from Westminster Borough Council last May.

Details show Mr Cartlidge paid his electricity bill of £78.99 per month on his personal card, which was subsequently repaid.

As well as using a flat in London, Mr Cartlidge also travelled regularly from his family home in Assington claiming back £4,167.94 in travel expenses.

Other regular payments were for advertising, manly self promotion, with £720 monthly to Hadleigh Community News, £297 monthly to the In Touch magazine owners Mansion House, and £499 to Iliffe Media publishers of the Suffolk Free Press

The lowest amount claimed was for car travel of £1.67 per journey. His monthly subscription to the Telegraph of £26.00 was also paid for by the taxpayer.

Like all MPs Mr Cartlidge is paid a basic annual salary of £84,144, he also receives a further £22,475 for his role as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.

According to the ONS, the average monthly wage in the UK is £38,131 for a full-time role and £13,549 for a part-time role.

Mr Cartlidge's office has confirmed to Nub News he plans to stand in the next general election, after first being elected in 2015, but declined to comment on his expenses.

See how this compares to neighbouring MP Therese Coffey's expenses.