MP Mark Francois has hit back at claims MPs are benefitting from bonuses of £10,000 to work from home.

Critics branded the move as scandalous and have accused MPs of cashing in over the virus.

But Mark Francois, Tory MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, defended the position and says the cash will cover equipment costs.

He said: “In the current climate it is perhaps unsurprising that many rumours are circulating on the internet.

“However, there is a false media story now circulating that MPs are somehow being awarded a £10,000 bonus for working from home during the Covid-19 crisis.

“This is completely untrue - but I wanted to explain to my constituents where this story appears to have come from.

“The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which regulates MPs’ pay and expenses, announced a £10,000 increase on the office costs allowance, to permit MPs to purchase any additional kit, computer equipment and such like, that they might need when working from home.

“This is partly to cope with the highly increased volume of emails we have experienced since the crisis broke. This is not a payment but rather a budget you can draw on but only if need be.

“To be absolutely clear, MPs do not gain a penny of this money personally, it cannot be donated to anybody but can only be used for the purpose intended.”

He added: “Fortunately, I don’t believe I or my staff need any extra kit so I am not planning to claim against the additional allowance anyway.”

Mr Francois said he understands the economic pressures which the pandemic is causing and has written to the banks, asking them to help businesses.

He has been critical of them after hearing from constituents who run businesses claiming they are having difficulty accessing cash freed up by the Government to keep them afloat throughout the coronavirus lockdown. He has called for banks to repay the taxpayers who bailed them out during the global crisis.

The Express reported, frustrated residents took to social media to voice their anger at this allocation of funding by the Independent Parliamentary Authority.

The news outlet says one annoyed Twitter user wrote: “Now we see the crazy patronising society we live in.

“True colour of our crumbling society, the clapping is for the MPs and city boys I think.”