St Albans MP Anne Main preffered to charge the taxpayer for a second home in her constituency than face 'soulless' overnight stays in hotels.

In an inteview with the Standards Commissioner, John Lyon, during an investigation into MP's parliamentary expenses, Mrs Main was asked why she had not considered staying in a hotel while visiting St Albans as opposed to a second home at taxpayers' expense.

She answered: "It is pretty soulless staying in a hotel. It wouldn't feel like home. It would be harder to have my family there.

"When I joined the house I attended the induction course and they told us MPs weren't expected to live life out of a suitcase. So I set up the arrangements which best suited my family.

"I note the complainant ( St Albans resident JR Harper) has researched a hotel near my flat. It would be pretty soulless to stay in a hotel. "And hotels don't allow you to dip in and out, or to shower, rest or park if you are not staying there, or to keep a change of clothers there."

Mrs Main has agreed to apologise and repay £7,100 in overclaimed expenses.

Sir Thomas Legg, who carried out the review on expenses in relation to MP's second homes, said she must repay the cash in respect of the period when her daughter supported her by staying in her second home in St Albans.

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