Claims row snares borough MP

Mr Wright was named in today's Daily Telegraph as one of at least 13 MPs who pocketed thousands of pounds to give up their right to cheap rent, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for the higher charges.

The MPs were offered lump sums for either moving out of the Dolphin Square block in Westminster of paying higher rent.

The offer came after it was bought from the council by a private company.

According to the Telegraph, the MPs who received a windfall included Mr Wright, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

Mr Wright, a former Wrekin councillor who has represented Telford in Parliament since 2001, is said to have been paid £16,787 as part of the deal, according to the newspaper report.

He is said to have paid capital gains tax on the sum.

Writing on his website before today's revelations, Mr Wright said: "When I was elected I rented a one-bedroom flat in London rather than buy a property and I have continued to rent throughout my time as an MP.

"The major items I claim for each month are the rent on the flat, currently £1,100 a month, council tax and utility bills. I also claim overnight subsistence of £25 when parliament is sitting."

Labour minister Elliot Morley last night became the 13th MP to quit following the expenses revelations.

Mr Morley - who claimed £16,800 of taxpayers' cash for a mortgage he had already paid off - announced he was stepping down at the next election after a meeting with party activists in his Scunthorpe constituency.

He said the decision followed a "traumatic" fortnight which had affected his family and his health. Mr Morley has repaid the cash, apologised and blamed the claims on "sloppy accounting".

The decision to wait until the next general election to step down means Mr Morley will qualify for a pay-off equivalent to a year's salary - presently £64,766.

His resignation came as a Times/Populus survey of ge- neral election voting intentions showed Labour on 21 per cent - its lowest ever level and well behind the Tories on 41 per cent. The Liberal Democrats came in at 15 per cent.

The situation looks to be even worse for Gordon Brown's party at next week's European elections, where the UK Independence Party is predicted to get more votes than Labour.

The Tories are on 30 per cent, with UKIP on 19, Labour on 16, and the Lib Dems on 12.

By Carl Jones