TORY councillors have backed MP Mark Hoban who has been spending taxpayers' money on silk cushion covers, chrome shower racks and expensive furniture.

Conservative leader of Fareham Borough Council, Sean Woodward, said his political colleague had done "nothing wrong" and even had picked out some "bargains" to save the public cash.

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Today it has emerged that Mr Hoban, who is Tory MP for Fareham and shadow financial secretary, spent £35 on a toilet roll holder, £100 on a shower rack, £319 on cushions and covers, £294 on a coffee and lamp table and £749 on a television.

He has also claimed £82,662 on his second home in four years on top of his £64,766 salary.

However, Councillor Woodward said: "Cushion covers at £79 sounds like a bargain to me and £30 a cushion seems about right.

"These claims hardly leap out like some of the others. There are MPs who have broken the rules and cheated taxpayers out of money and I think these people are criminals and need to be ousted out of politics but Mark is certainly not one of them.

"I know him and think he is a very good MP, I know he has a modest London flat, and I don't think these claims are in anyway outrageous."The system is certainly flawed but I don't think Mark did anything morally wrong and I am sure he would have put a great deal of thought into how he spent public money."

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He went on to say he welcomed new restrictions imposed by top Tory David Cameron which limits future Conservative claims to mortgage or rent payments and utility bills.

Mr Hoban said: "At the time I made these claims I believed they were reasonable and within the spirit of the rules.

"My claim forms have been submitted to the Conservatives' Scrutiny Panel and I will accept any guidance they give."

However, he was unavailable for comment when the Daily Echo tried to find out if he was going to unveil his entire catalogue of expense claims to the public.

These revelations come shortly after the row claimed the scalp of fellow Tory Peter Viggers, MP for Gosport, who was slammed for claiming £30,000 for his garden and trying to bill taxpayers £1,600 for a duck island in his pond.

Mr Viggers has announced he will be stepping down at the next election.