A MAYOR has confirmed he has never submitted an expenses claim in seven years, maintaining his salary is recompense enough.

Stuart Drummond, who was re-elected as Hartlepool Mayor for the third time last week, has kept his early promise to cover his expenses from his own pocket.

Despite being entitled to claim for fuel, food and phone bills, if they are work related, he has dug into his own pocket for the past seven years to save the taxpayer money.

The move is in stark contrast to the behaviour of the MPs who have been shamed throughout the recent expenses scandal.

Mr Drummond said: “I took the decision on day one of my first election that the mayoral salary was a good one and I would cover my own expenses with it.

“I have stuck to this decision rigidly ever since and my salary is more than ample to cover any expenses that I would have.

“I feel very strongly about that. Times are very tough for a lot of people and I am not here to make what I can out of the system.”

Turning his attention to the Westminster expenses scandal, he said: “I think it is pathetic some of the claims that have been highlighted.

“I don’t think people go into these jobs looking to get everything they can out of it but the system, which has been in place in Parliament for many years, has allowed people to get away with it.”

Middlesbrough’s Mayor, Ray Mallon, said his accounts were open for anyone to inspect.

Mr Mallon said: “In the seven years that I have been in office, the only things that I have claimed for is my mileage allowance and the occasional allowance when I have had to stay in London for a conference.

“One of the first things that we decided to do when I was elected was to transform the expenses process.

“Every claim had to be backed by a receipt, and if the MPs had followed this protocol they wouldn’t be in the mess that they are now.

“We can open the books on any councillors expenses, and indeed my own, because we believe that we have got our house in order.”