MONEY claimed by Howden and Haltemprice MP David Davis to service his lawnmower must be paid back.
Mr Davis, who lives in Spaldington, has agreed with David Cameron's special scrutiny panel, which was set up after revelations about expense claims in the Daily Telegraph, to repay the £415.
Mr Davis told the Courier: "I was one of the first Conse
rvative MPs to submit my expenses to the Conservatives' internal review body and I welcome the work they have undertaken.
"Whilst there has never been any suggestion that my own claims were outside of the rules, I do feel that it is important to show to the public that we understand their anger by agreeing to pay back some of our expenses.
"I have discussed these with the Committee and agreed to pay back about £415 which was claimed, within the rules, for lawnmower maintenance.
He added that he would be applying the Tories stringent rules to his 2008-09 expenses - which have not yet been released - and may pay back some of these as well.
He added: "As Conservatives we have taken a lead in responding to public anger over MPs' expenses.
"I have never accepted that simply saying our claims were 'within the rules' was good enough, which is why I am agreeing to pay back some of my expenses even though there is no suggestion they breached any of the rules of the House of Commons.
"The public are right to be angry and it is incumbent on all MPs to show that we understand and appreciate their anger and that we are prepared to respond to it with actions, not just words."
However, he will not be repaying any of the other expenses for 2004 to 2008, including the cost of gardeners to mow his "west and back paddock" or the cost of re-covering his dining room chairs.
