YET another Westminster MP has hit the headlines in a row over expenses.

This time is was Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who resigned from the Cabinet on Wednesday.

There has been no suggestion she broke the law.

From what I can gather, the matter essentially related to over-claimed mortgage expenses. She was ordered to repay a proportion of the money.

Mrs Miller might have remained as Culture Secretary but politicians of all colours — and, I reckon, many members of the public — were less than impressed when her apology to the Commons took just 32 seconds. She held on for a few days but finally felt obliged to hand in her notice.

Leaving aside Mrs Miller, do politicians not realise the electorate are completely and utterly scunnered about MPs’ expenses and claims connected with mortgages on ‘second homes’?

The man and woman in the street simply cannot understand how MPs can have the brass neck to claim for a packet of biscuits and other everyday items the rest of us pay from our own pockets.

One fellow even tried to get around £1,600 for a floating duck house in the grounds of his home. Thankfully, that was knocked back.

What puzzles me is that other ludicrous expenses claims have been agreed and only later has the MP been ordered to hand back the money.

This would not happen in the case of ordinary people. Picture the scene. An employee is called to the office of a big boss who says: “Good afternoon, Mr Wilberforce, this will only take a minute.

“The accounts department has passed to me an expenses form relating to your recent trip down south on behalf of the company.

“I have no problem with cost of the train tickets, hotel accommodation, an evening meal and the couple of taxi trips.

“But what made you think the firm would even consider paying for the trombone you bought while in Birmingham?” An employee submitting such a claim could expect, at the very least, to be told to make an urgent appointment with the company doctor to get his head examined.