Loser Lembit Opik's bill for election was bigger

Lembit Opik lost his Montgomeryshire seat to Glyn Davies despite spending more money on his election campaign, figures reveal today.

They also show Labour's David Wright spent about £6,000 less than his Tory opponent Tom Biggins to retain his Telford constituency by a whisker.

Mr Opik, who lost his second election of the year when he was booted out of the I'm A Celebrity jungle last month, spent £20,749.

In comparison, Mr Davies spent £17,851 — £2,898 less than Mr Opik — in a close-run election contest.

The new Tory MP beat the Liberal Democrat by polling 13,976 votes — just 1,184 more than Mr Opik who got 12,792 votes.

The data, released by the Electoral Commission, covers the period from January 1 to the May 6 polling date.

Across the country, some 4,028 candidates spent a total of £25.2m on a range of products and activities, from posters to hiring campaign office space.

It shows the spending by individual candidates on their own campaigns out of their own pockets, through fundraising, or both — not their political parties.

Mr Davies said: "I think it is very interesting and it demonstrates just having a lot of money doesn't necessarily win you elections."

In another close face-off which produced a knife-edge result, Mr Wright held on to his parliamentary seat with 15,974 votes despite spending £6,169 less than Mr Biggins who won 14,996 votes.

He spent £22,809 compared to Mr Wright's £16,640.

Tory Philip Dunne retained his Ludlow seat declaring he had spent £36,631.

Liberal Democrat Heather Kidd, who finished in second place, spent £23,408.

At the other end of the spectrum, Ukip's Christopher Gill spent £3,945; Labour's candidate Anthony Hunt, £1,166; The Green Party's Jacqui Morrish, £1,457, the BNP's Christina Evans, £1,129; and Alan Powell, of The Monster Raving Loony Party, £85.

Tory Owen Paterson held on to his North Shropshire seat and spent £9,258, compared to runner-up Lib Dem Ian Croll's £455.

Tory Daniel Kawczynski spent £23,775 to hold on to his Shrewsbury and Atcham seat — compared to Lib Dem Charles West's £19,984 and Labour candidate Jonathan Tandy's £11,450.

There was just £160 difference in the piggy banks of Tory Mark Pritchard (£10,725) and Labour's Paul Kalinauckas (£10,565), who finished second.

However, Mr Pritchard polled 47.7 per cent of the vote — compared to the 27.1 per cent share that went to Mr Kalinauckas.