THE pressure on MP Eleanor Laing to apologise for avoiding tax on her home is growing.

Mrs Laing’s political opponents in Epping Forest have demanded she properly explain herself after The Telegraph revealed she had avoided £180,000 of capital gains tax by declaring her second, tax-payer-funded home as her primary residence.

Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Epping Forest Tony Clements said: “These are the largest sums I’ve heard in any of the expenses scandals. Eleanor Laing has shown a total lack of remorse and accountability She seems to be the only one who thinks these actions are acceptable.

“Eleanor Laing’s story is inconsistent and confused - the explanation so far stinks. She needs to call a public meeting in the constituency and explain her actions immediately.”

Lib Dems in Epping Forest have launched an online petition calling for Mrs Laing to apologise for her actions.

Group leader Jon Whitehouse said: “I hadn’t realised the sheer size of the sums involved or the profits that MPs have been able to make on property with the help of the taxpayer.

“I suppose the question that many people will now be asking is whether Mrs Laing should make a gesture similar to the one made by Hazel Blears, who felt obliged to pay back a sum equivalent to the capital gains tax that was not levied on her property profits.”