TORY Southend West MP David Amess is prepared to discuss his expenses claims direct with constituents, if they ask him, his spokeswoman said.

Victoria Palmer, Mr Amess’s political secretary, responded to a letter from Labour candidate Tom Flynn, after the MP walked away and sought refuge in a hairdressers when he was challenged to explain his expenses by an Echo reporter.

The Echo has also tried to contact Mr Amess at least 20 times by phone, encouraging him to explain why he claimed £400 per month for food while he is in London.

In a letter to Mr Flynn, Ms Palmer said: “There can be little doubt the three major parties are suffering a pounding at the moment on the issue of MPs’ allowances.

“Mr Amess’s approach to these matters is a consistent one. When any constituent approaches him on the subject, he either replies with a letter or invites them to meet him directly. Then a constructive dialogue can take place.

“Much more importantly, however, Mr Amess made it very clear in a recent speech in the House of Commons that a General Election should be held immediately.

Mr Flynn, who called for a public meeting for Mr Amess to explain his expenses, said he was disappointed by the response.

He said: “The letter even started ‘Welcome to Southend’, even though I have lived here for years.

“I am disappointed by this response, which denies the people of Southend West a chance to debate the issues with their Member of Parliament. However, I am not surprised.

“Mr Amess has a well known track record of running away. He ran away from Basildon in 1997.

“He ran away from the Echo last week, and today he has run away from the people who elected him to Parliament in the first place.

“I need a haircut at the moment so I’m happy to have the debate at a salon of his choosing whenever he next decides to hide from the press in a hairdressers.”