A LEADING contender for the post of House of Commons Speaker today defended his second home allowance claims, after it was disclosed that he and his wife were receiving expenses while staying at the same address.

Senior Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith, who represents Berwick-Upon-Tweed, was the first MP to throw his hat into the ring after Michael Martins announcement of his resignation earlier this week and has been made second favourite by some bookies.

The Daily Telegraph today published details of Sir Alan's second home claims, showing that he received £117,000 to cover rent on a flat in London between 2000 and 2008, while his wife Lib Dem peer Lady Maddock was given £60,000 in overnight expenses to attend the House of Lords.

Sir Alan today said there was nothing wrong with the arrangement, as he and his wife split the cost of the rent in order to ensure that the taxpayer did not pay twice for the same accommodation.

"It would be quite wrong for the taxpayer to pay twice for the same costs, so we have shared the costs, either by sharing the cost of rent, or by my wife using her allowance towards costs incurred," he said. "She normally claims only half of the Lords' overnight allowance."

The MP also defended expenses claims which he submitted for a new kitchen worth £5,457 and an air conditioning unit costing £219 for the London flat.

"The kitchen had had no work done on it since the 1960s, the cupboards were falling apart and the appliances, which were second-hand when acquired, were not energy efficient," he said.

"The flat often becomes much too hot to sleep in during June and July, and my old air cooler broke down. I got a replacement from Argos."

He added: "I have always rented my London accommodation, always sought value for money in any necessary expenditure, and have always sought to ensure that there were no grounds for a suggestion of misuse of public money."