LEYTON and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen has defended his right to spend thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on one of his two homes.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight after Parliament launched an inquiry into whether all London MPs should be barred from claiming allowances on their second homes.

Mr Cohen, who has represented Wanstead and Leyton for 25 years, has a house in Woodcote Road, Wanstead, as well as a second home in Colchester, which he has owned for several years.

All MPs from constituencies outside inner London are entitled to as much as £22,110 in additional cost allowance (ACA) to pay for a place close to Parliament, so they can stay in the capital while working at the House.

But Mr Cohen has continued to claim cash to pay for his Wanstead house - despite admitting to spending at least 90 per cent of his time in the constituency, which is just six miles from Westminster.

Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith, in neighbouring Chingford and Woodford Green, by comparison, claimed just £500 to meet his housing costs, while Ilford North MP, Lee Scott, has made no claim at all.

Mr Cohen said: "I am perfectly entitled to claim this money, because my house in Wanstead is my constituency home, while my house in Colchester is my main family home.

"I work very hard, and think I give my constituents very good value for money.

"This money simply covers some of the extensive costs of being an active MP."

Mr Cohen added he welcomed the MPs' inquiry into housing allowances, and said he would prefer to see the current system scrapped.

He said: "I would like to see these allowances included directly in MPs' annual salaries."

Snaresbrook ward councillor Sue Nolan accused Mr Cohen of taking advantage of a loophole open to all MPs.

She said: "Harry isn't doing anything wrong, but you do have to question why he would need to claim money for the Wanstead house when he spends nearly all of his time here. He's allowed to do what he's doing, but it is up to his constituents to decide whether or not it's morally justifiable."