MPs IN Oxfordshire tonight insisted their expense claims were above board as further damaging details about their colleagues were revealed.

Andrew Smith, the Labour MP for Oxford East, Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and Tony Baldry, the Conservative MP for Banbury – whose detailed claims have yet to be published – suggested that anyone looking for scandal would be disappointed.

Their claims – along with those of every MP – are due to be published officially by the Commons authorities in July following a freedom of information battle.

However, The Daily Telegraph is revealing fresh details every day after acquiring a leaked copy of the claims.

Yesterday, the spotlight was turned on Tory leader and Witney MP David Cameron, who put a total of £82,450 on his second home allowance over four years.

The majority of Mr Cameron’s claims were for mortgage interest and utility bills for his Oxfordshire constituency home.

One exception was a £680 bill for repairs to the property, which included clearing wisteria and vines from a chimney, replacing outside lights and resealing his conservatory roof.

Mr Cameron, whose expenses were considered unremarkable alongside those of Tories who billed taxpayers for dog food and a ride-on lawnmower, said: “I think everyone is very angry about the expenses system in Parliament and everyone knows that it needs to change. We have got to get on and make that change.”

Fellow Oxfordshire MPs predicted their claims under the second homes allowance, when published, would appear relatively straightforward compared with some of the more controversial claims.

Mr Smith said: “I have not been involved in any of the dubious practices that have been criticised and I have done my best to keep within the spirit as well as the letter of the rules.

“My claims cover mortgage interest, repairs, food and utilities.

“They do include a proportion of bathroom and kitchen fittings where repairs and replacements were needed, but they don’t include things like TVs, music systems or garden furniture.

“My own claims are well down the list of MPs’ costs.

“But I very well understand the public anger over this discredited system and the sooner it is fundamentally changed the better.”

Mr Harris said: “I have never claimed for a new kitchen, a new bathroom, gardening or plasma screen TV or anything like that.

“My claims have been mainly for my interest-only mortgage, food, utility bills, council tax and modest cleaning bills. Last week I voted for receipts to be given for all claims and for total disclosure of outside income.”

Mr Baldry said of his claims: “I don't think there are going to be any surprises.”

The expense claims, which relate to the period between 2004/05 and 2007/08, cover Boris Johnson’s period as MP for Henley.

Claims for 2008/09 made by his successor, John Howell, will not be published until the autumn.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey was unavailable for comment as the Oxford Mail went to press.

Between April 2007 and March 2008, Dr Harris claimed £160,923, Mr Smith £152,389, Mr Cameron £148,829, Mr Baldry £147,144, Mr Vaizey £144,088 and Mr Johnson £141,287.