A NORTH-EAST MP told to repay part of an expenses claim has vowed to tell the auditor to “p*** off” unless he can come up with firm proof.

Frank Cook, the outgoing Stockton North MP, has gone into battle with Sir Thomas Legg, who has carried out checks on all claims made over the past four years.

The act of defiance comes as other MPs – although not Mr Cook – are accused of using “go-slow” tactics to escape repaying expenses until after they have quit parliament next year.

In fact, the veteran Stockton North MP, who was deselected by Labour, revealed he was still mulling over running as in independent at the next election – despite turning 74 this week.

Mr Cook said: “Labour have given me a free transfer, but I am going to play on for the full 90 minutes, abiding by the terms of the contract I signed in 2005.

“When the final whistle blows, who knows what will happen? Nothing is definite – and there might be extra time.”

Like all MPs, Mr Cook was sent a “Legg letter”, querying some payments made by the now-notorious Commons fees office, dating back to 2004.

He has already repaid £1,018, which he agreed he owed because of a muddle over council tax reclaimed for his London home in 2005.

But the MP has refused to pay back a further £980 for utility bills, which Sir Thomas argued were wrongly claimed for his constituency office. Mr Cook insisted they were legitimate claims for his second home.

Now a third dispute has arisen over a refrigerator, bought from the “John Lewis”

list MPs were allowed to use, but which is now outlawed.

Mr Cook said: “Legg said I paid too much for a refrigerator.

I have told him, if he will please provide me with a copy of the guidelines that existed on that, I will think about it.

“He has to justify asking me for money back, just as much as I have to justify claiming the money in the first place.

“I really don’t wish to cause Sir Thomas any frustration and exasperation. But I won’t pay up without justification and, if the one they provide is not good enough, I will tell them to p*** off.”

Many MPs have declined to go public on the content of their “Legg letters” until disputes are resolved. A full report is to be published next month, or early next year.

Meanwhile, Sir Thomas is reported to be “frustrated”

that a hardcore of MPs are deliberately delaying their responses to him, in the hope of escaping next May without further penalty.

He had hoped to send out final bills this week, but has been unable to do so in a large number of cases, because MPs have failed to provide the required documents.