PERSHORE’S MP Harriett Baldwin spent almost £1,000 worth of taxpayers’ money a week on expenses during her first few months in office.

The MP for West Worcestershire published the first three months of her approved expenses on her website at harriettbaldwin.com – in line with a pre-election pledge.

The numbers reveal that Ms Baldwin spent almost £500 on stationery between June 17 and July 27. The biggest payout of £3,877.50 on June 21 was to Conservative specialist researchers at the Parliamentary Resources Unit more than David Cameron, who claimed £2,408.75 for research services. Ms Baldwin spent another £1,198.50 on office furniture.

In total she spent about £11,200 of taxpayers’ money during her first 12 weeks in office. Evesham’s MP Peter Luff, who also publishes his expense online, spent £5,887 over the same period.

Ms Baldwin said: “Since being elected I have been busy setting up offices in Westminster and Malvern and taking on local people to help with constituency concerns.

“I have had to spend money setting up a constituency office and office furniture is one of our biggest expenses. As any small business owner will know, we have had a lot of up-front fixed costs including rent deposits, stationery and office equipment.

“I also drive back to the constituency every Friday to hold meetings and to hold a constituency surgery.”

The cost to the taxpayer of these meetings was £576 she spent on mileage in May, £549 in June and £622 in July.

Ms Baldwin also said: “West Worcestershire is one of the largest constituencies, geographically, stretching from Tenbury to the Cotswolds – so there is a lot of driving which needs to be done each week.”