A Hampshire MP who backed a law that would have blocked the public release of parliamentary expense claims benefited from thousands of pounds in second-home payments, it was reported today.

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis is among a group of MPs who tried to scupper the public release of their expenses.

But Conservative Mr Lewis claimed more than £7,000 from the taxpayer for redecorating his second home and installing new kitchen appliances.

Shadow defence secretary Mr Lewis has denied any wrong doing.

Mr Lewis admitted the Westminster expenses system was ''rotten'' but insisted he had only used it to carry out essential maintenance and had not abused the system.

Fellow Tory David Maclean, who introduced a Bill to exempt Parliament from aspects of freedom of information law, has been accused of using £20,000 of taxpayers' cash to do up a property before selling it.

Mr Maclean then avoided paying capital gains tax on the sale by telling the taxman it was his main home, it is alleged.

He has firmly rejected dodging his tax liabilities on the home sale, saying: ''That is an absolute fabrication. I did not avoid paying capital gains tax. That is crooked and I would not do it.''

Several other backers of the failed Bill, which Mr Maclean claimed was required to protect constituents' confidentiality but critics said would keep expenses secret, were also targeted over their claims.

Labour MP David Clelland was said to have ''bought out'' his partner's share of a joint mortgage at a cost of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer in higher claims for interest payments as well as legal fees.

The member for Tyne Bridge said that there was ''nothing illegal or improper'' in the claims he had made.

Former Labour whip Fraser Kemp was said to be ready to pay back money claimed for repeat purchases, including 16 sheets within seven weeks and two DVD players, admitting some claims had been an ''error''.

And shadow home office minister David Ruffley was reported to have ''flipped'' his second home from London to his constituency before claiming back thousands for furniture and fittings, including a £1,674 sofa.

He was said to have been refused the full amount when he claimed for a £2,175 television from Harrods.

Mr Ruffley, MP for Bury St Edmunds, said in a statement: ''It was logical that I designated London as my main home, which it has been ever since. There was a saving to the taxpayer as a result.

''For the unfurnished second home rented property I required a sofa, a bed and a TV.

''I asked the Fees Office what was an appropriate reimbursement. As a result, I paid from my own pocket two thirds of the cost of the TV and 70% of the cost of bedroom furnishings.''