THE county's six MPs claimed close to £1million in expenses for 2013/14, which is more than they have ever before.

Neil Carmichael Stroud’s Conservative MP, claimed a total of £194,879.

Neil Carmichael’s office released a comment regarding his expenses: “In term of Neil’s expenses last year, there are a couple of points to make.

“There was an increase in staffing costs during the last year to cover maternity cover. The office move, from Stroud to Nailsworth, has also resulted in decreased rent.”

Mr Carmichael believes in ‘equal opportunity for all’ therefore supports women in the office who become pregnant by lining up maternity cover.

Mark Harper, Conservative MP for the Forest of Dean, claimed £153,531 and Richard Graham, Conservative MP for Gloucester, claimed £154,582, Martin Horwood, Cheltenham’s Liberal Democrat MP, claimed £161,470.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP for the Cotswolds, which includes Minchinhampton and Wotton-under-Edge, claimed £125,998.

Laurence Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, total cost to the taxpayer was £171,016.

All MPs earn a salary of £66,396.