THE Tory leader of Essex County Council picked up £25,000 from taxpayers for accommodation and expenses to sit in the House of Lords – despite living less than 40 miles away.

Lord Hanningfield, Shadow minister for transport, claimed more than MPs are allowed for second homes.

Overall, he claimed £38,884 in 2007/08 for his role as a life peer at the House of Lords, with most of the money going on office costs.

The Conservative peer claimed an average of £160 in overnight subsistence for the 107 times he sat in the house in 2007/08, despite living around 35 miles away in West Hanningfield, near Chelmsford.

He also claimed nearly £80 per visit for day subsistence, which covers the cost of meals and incidental travel.

And although he attended nearly two-thirds of the days the House of Lords sat, he took part in only 27 out of 107 votes that year.

Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell revealed the information in the Commons.

He told fellow members Lord Hanningfield’s £25,654 expenses for overnight and daily subsistence was more than the £24,000 MPs could claim for their second home allowance.

Mr Russell said afterwards: “I think when you look at the claims he has made for the House of Lords, including subsistence claims, and then consider also his allowances and claims in his role as leader of Essex County Council, I just feel that, perhaps, the relevant authorities should be looking into them.

“Beyond that I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to make any further comment.”

Lord Hanningfield’s House of Lords expenses are further boosted by the allowances he claims as leader of Essex County Council, which totalled £59,110.78 in 2006/07.

Alongside the allowances given to all councillors and the £36,030 he gets as leader, he claimed £5,319.12 for travel and £7,466.62 for fares and subsistence.

Lord Hanningfield was unavailable for comment.