I GREATLY enjoyed the letter from IWCA leader Cllr Stuart Craft about MP Andrew Smith’s expenses claims (OxfordMail, June 15).

I’m astonished the Mail has been so soft on Mr Smith, not detailing the sheer penny-pinching involved in some claims.

In contrast, The Sunday Telegraph listed his claims in full, devoting half a page to our MP.

Among his claims were 59p for two dusters, 50p for a carrier bag (for life, hopefully) and 20p for a kitchen wipe. If it’s any help, I’ve a spare bath plug if Mr Smith needs one...

I would remind your readers that the Smiths enjoy a joint annual income of about £100,000 minus expenses, the MP employing (at our expense), his spouse – a practice outlawed by the European Parliament. The Smiths are clearly comfortably off, so why claim anything?

Indeed, why a second house at all? Mr Smith’s colleague, Tony McNulty, another failed Work and Pensions Minister, said no MP living within 60 miles of the capital (as Mr Smith does) needs a second home. Only 60 miles?

Mr Smith told the Mail this week that he wants “everyone to have the chance of a decent home”. Quite. How then can he justify living in two properties when so many of his constituents have none?

JOHN GREEN, Risinghurst, Oxford