Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge has published details of his expenses online.
Candidates from other parties have used the new information as ammunition against the Conservative MP.
The details published show that Mr Duddridge claimed £7,000 redecorating a London flat, before switching his claim to another, larger property worth £397,500, also in the capital.
Mr Duddridge said he originally stayed at a friend’s property near Westminster when necessary, but then decided to use a small flat in the capital that he had owned for some time.
Once his wife became pregnant, Mr Diddridge said, a larger property than the original one-bedroom flat was necessary to house him and his family, and so he took out a mortgage for another property.
Mr Duddridge claimed £22, 975 in the financial year 2007-2008.
Labour candidate for Rochford and Southend East Kevin Bonavia told the Southend Standard:
“If I am elected I would pledge to only rent and not have a mortgage for personal gain and I would live in Southend.
“I would keep any living expenses to a minimum.”
Meanwhile, Southend independent councillor Ron Woodley said that he would stand against Mr Diddridge in the next General Election. Of the expenses details, he told the Southend Standard:
“The expenses issue just shows how MPs now are putting the party first, themselves second and the residents very much third.
“My wife commutes to London every day and uses the same tube station as James Duddridge and if I were to stand I would pledge only to use expenses to do my job.”
MPs have caused outrage in Southend by claiming for second homes in London, despite the relatively short distance between their constituency and the capital.
Last week in Parliament, Southend Conservative MP David Amess expressed his regret that, when MPs altered their working hours to start and finish at more standard times, the second homes allowance was not reviewed properly.
