I was astounded to read that our three MPs had together claimed expenses totalling more than a third of a million pounds (MPs' expenses top third of a million, Croydon Guardian, November 1).

This was on top of an attractive salary that most of their constituents can only dream of. What happened to the spirit of selfless devotion to public office?

I know that turkeys don't vote for Christmas, but it would be nice if our elected representatives (at every level of government) occasionally kept their financial proclivity in check.

This type of expenditure only serves to further the perception that politicians are grubby, attention-seeking money grabbers who are only in it for themselves.

I also understand that MPs can claim up to £250 without receipts - that means that a pork pie from a motorway service station can become a champagne lunch for two at The Ivy without anyone ever asking any questions.

Is there any other profession that gives its employees such accounting freedom? I know that I cannot claim a single penny that is not backed up by receipts.

Perhaps our MPs would like to explain their claims through the excellent letters pages of the Croydon Guardian?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED