Evening Express: Million pounds

It's the sort of sum that could buy a house or a Ferrari.   

The North-east's six MPs have racked up an average of £159,499 in annual expenses.   

That's nearly £1 million between them.   

Top of the list was Aberdeen North's Frank Doran, pictured, who ran up a tab for £171,836.   

Mr Doran, who ranked sixth out of the country's 646 MPs, claimed £29,684 for travel alone.   

The Labour politician said the high cost of air fares between Aberdeen and London was a factor.   

He said: "The further you are from Westminster and the harder you work, the more expensive the operation is.   

"I travel back to the constituency every week to be available to my constituents and it is an expensive business."   

Like all MPs, the bulk of expenses were for staff costs - in his case, £81,557.   

Among other expenses were office bills at £26,159. Staying in London added £22,110.   

Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) claimed £166,814; Anne Begg (Aberdeen South), £154,230; Malcolm Bruce (Gordon), £158,580; Angus Robertson (Moray), £158,151; and Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire), £147,388.

The North-east's total bill was £956,999.   

Across the UK MPs claimed £87.6 million - an average 5% rise.   

The most expensive was Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury in Yorkshire, who claimed £185,000.   

Cheapest was Kettering Tory Philip Hollobone, at just £44,551.   

TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "Families are struggling to pay higher tax bills while MPs are spending more and more of our money each year."