WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger will not now have to pay back £2,400 he claimed for mortgage interest repayments.

The County Gazette reported this morning how Mr Liddell-Grainger successfully appealed a demand from Sir Thomas Legg to pay back £16,000 he claimed for mortgage interest payments, but that he would be paying back another £2,400.

However, Mr Liddell-Grainger says he has since been told he will not have to pay back the £2,400 either.

The Tory MP initially said he would have been happy to pay back the money, which he said related to changes in the mortgage rate last year. But later, Mr Liddell-Grainger said Sir Paul Kennedy had informed him that he had in fact been under-claiming on his mortgage payments, and did not have to pay anything back.

Mr Liddell-Grainger, has, however, been told to pay back a £350 claim for cleaning costs.

The County Gazette reported last year how Mr Liddell-Grainger had come under fire for some of his expenses claims, which included £50-a-week for a cleaner and £375-a-month on food.