MP BOB Spink has blamed critics of his expenses after two bricks were thrown at his Benfleet home and constituency office.

A public meeting to discuss the Independent MP’s expense claims was marred when Dr Spink revealed his greenhouse had been smashed by yobs the night before.

At the end of the heated meeting Dr Spink rounded on his opponents.

He said: “Please, please no more bricks. Tell your friends, those who don’t like what I’m doing, no more bricks.”

Dr Spink said he awoke on Saturday morning to find one brick had broken two glass panes in his greenhouse.

Another had been thrown at his summer house, which contains a Jacuzzi, but caused no damage.

Holding the bricks aloft in front of his audience, Dr Spink said: “I don’t deserve building bricks thrown at me for doing my job for you.”

Dr Spink said he would not be informing the police.

On Saturday, about 50 Castle Point residents turned up to quiz the MP at a public question and answer session at his Benfleet home and constituency office.

Some of the questioners wanted to know why he had spent £25,000 of taxpayers’ money doing up his second home in Westminster.

Dr Spink told the meeting he had been a long-time critic of the expenses system.

But when asked by the Echo why he continued to make claims despite his ideological opposition, Dr Spink answered he was using all facilities available to represent constituents’ interests.

He said: “It would be hypocritical to put myself forward to represent people when people trusted I would use all the facilities available to me to represent their interests at Westminster.

“It would be hypocritical of me to fail to do that job,” he added.

Last week the Echo revealed the Independent MP had spent £11,000 on a new bathroom, and walls and flooring, as well as £3,000 on carpets and curtains. Speaking at the meeting, Glenn Smith, of Benfleet, asked: “You and other MPs are going to the limit of expenses that were there for required expenses only. How can you call £3,000 for a new carpet a required expense?”

Dr Spink answered that he had done up his flat because he holds regular meetings there.

He said: “I paid about £1,000 for two settees and a coffee table because I use it as a meeting place. I have policy development meetings there.”

The MP was then asked if he would be returning profits on the home when he sold it.

The flat, which is near the London Eye, is now worth approximately £150,000 more than the £250,000 it cost him in March 2004.

Dr Spink said the system should be reformed so politicians were unable to profit from their second homes.

He added: “All of the furniture and the items should be returned to the state when the MP gives up his second home.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr Spink asked those attending to put their hands up if they thought he had acted irresponsibly with his allowances.

Of those who had gathered on his lawn, only six people put their hand up.

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