Coffee mornings and local meetings: MP explains expenses

Speaking to the Observer, Mr Barker said he wanted to meet as many constituents as possible over the summer to discuss expenses, the role of MPs and the reform of Parliament.

Mr Barker said: "Following the whole issue of expenses, I am going to be hosting a series of local meetings and coffee mornings across the constituency.

"I want to meet as many people as possible in the community to not only answer questions and explain the issues surrounding my own expenses, details of which are on my website, but also to try and build a consensus on the way forward and the reform of parliament.

"I know from the conversations and discussions I have had with people in Bexhill that there are a lot of good ideas and thoughtful contributions to the debate and I want to use the summer months to meet as many people as possible and engage in a constructive debate on a non party political basis."

Dates and locations for the meetings will be given soon.