THE second home expenses claims of Harry Cohen MP have been revealed.

The Daily Telegraph has today published leaked documents which apparently show the Leyton and Wanstead member spent thousands on redecorating a "second home" before selling it on and claiming £12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new house.

The newspaper alleges he then spent thousands redecorating the kitchen at his new house in Wanstead.

THE CLAIMS

The Telegraph has reported that, since the 2004-5 parliamentary year, Mr Cohen has used his second home allowance to charge the taxpayer:

- £3,031 for a granite kitchen work surface

- £5,232 for furniture, bedding and decoration materials including paint and varnish.

- £1,222 for new blinds.

- £500 for repainting the front of his house.

- £13.99 for an "old-fashioned" enamel door sign.

- £25 for a sheepskin IKEA rug.

- £13 for a garlic press and tin opener.

- £150 for a vase.

- £4.25 for baby wipes.

- £8.75 for men's shaving oil.

- £16.95 for a mini deep fat fryer.

- £4.50 for an "easy slice pineapple set".

- £649.99 for a cooker.

- £3,131.37 on plastering works.

COHEN 'RENOVATED HOME THEN SOLD IT ON'

In November 2005, the Telegraph reports Mr Cohen sold the renovated home for £249,995 and then bought a new house in Woodcote Road, Wanstead, for £375,000.

He then claimed £11,250 for stamp duty, £250 in solicitor's fees and £235 for a buyer's report on the old house.

The Telegraph also says he claims back £656 a month in mortgage interest payments.

Mr Cohen, who has an annual salary of more than £64,000, has apparently told the newspaper he will pay back the toiletries cash.

He is currently being investigated by the Parliamentary Watchdog over allegations that he broke expenses rules.

Mr Cohen has been so far unavailable for comment to the Guardian, but he has always denied any wrongdoing.

The backbench Labour MP told the Telegraph that he moved home after his wife had a stroke, as their former home was not suitable enough for her changed needs.

He said the kitchen area in the new home had fixtures which were over 30 years old and needed to be replaced.

In 2006 Mr Cohen told the Guardian: "I see the allowance as an adjunct of my salary. Use it or lose it, and I use it. I believe it's mine."

FELLOW REDBRIDGE MP: 'IT'S NOT MORALLY RIGHT TO CLAIM FOR A KITCHEN'

Following the apparent revealations, fellow Redbridge MP Lee Scott, who represents Ilford North and sections of South Woodford, invited the Guardian to inspect his expenses in full.

He added: "I'm appalled by what's going on with my colleagues expenses and want to open up all my expenses for everyone to see.

"I'm not doing this to look like Mother Teresa but I'm just so fed up, as someone who's been frugal, with the national media making it look like all every MP is the same.

"Some of the claims such as for a bloody mortgage that doesn't exist are just horrendous. I don't understand it and I'm really upset.

"I've not charged for a new kitchen as I don't think it's morally right and live in the same home now as before I was an MP. All MPs have to answer these questions themselves and answer to their own electorate."

Earlier this week Mr Cohen was named by William Hill as one of the frontrunners to replace Commons Speaker Michael Martin if he was forced from power.

The bookmakers put him just outside the top ten of most likely candidates, at odds of 50 to one.