MP Expenses FAQ

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions people ask most about UK MP expenses. For a deeper dive on any topic, our full guides go further, and the methodology page covers exactly how the data is sourced.

What is IPSA?

IPSA (the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) is the independent body that regulates and publishes UK MPs' business cost claims — office running costs, staffing, travel and accommodation. It was set up in 2010, separate from Parliament and the government, specifically so MPs' expenses would no longer be self-regulated.

What counts as an MP expense claim?

An MP expense claim is a reimbursement for a cost of doing the job — not personal spending. IPSA groups claims into categories: staffing (employing caseworkers and researchers), office costs (rent, equipment, supplies), travel (between constituency, Westminster and official business), and accommodation (for MPs whose constituency is outside London). Every claim on this site links back to its original IPSA source record.

Are MP expenses part of their salary?

No. MP salary and MP expenses are published and regulated separately. Expenses are reimbursements for job-related costs, not extra pay — see our full guide on how much MPs get paid for the salary side of this.

How much do MPs typically claim in expenses?

Claim totals vary significantly by MP — constituency distance from Westminster, staffing needs and casework volume all affect the total. We publish the all-MP average for each year alongside individual figures so claims can be seen in context, without ranking MPs against each other.

How do I check what my own MP has claimed?

Search for your MP by name or postcode, or browse by constituency. Each MP's page shows a year-by-year breakdown by category with the full itemised claims table underneath.

How do I find the official records myself, not just this site's summary?

Every figure on this site links directly to its original source record. For the full raw publications, IPSA publishes them directly — see our methodology page for exactly how we import and process that data.

Does this site rank or criticise MPs based on spending?

No. We present published figures without ranking, scoring or 'worst offender' framing. Higher or lower claims often reflect factors like constituency size, distance from London, and staffing needs rather than anything about the individual MP.

What's the difference between expenses and an MP's outside interests?

IPSA expenses are business costs of doing the MP role. Outside earnings, second jobs, donations and shareholdings are a separate system — Parliament's Register of Members' Financial Interests. See our guide on second jobs and outside interests for how that data appears on this site.

How often is this data updated?

We import new data as IPSA publishes it, typically covering a full financial year at a time. Check the methodology page for the current publication lag and exactly which years are covered.