Rochdale's Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, has urged the Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Rowen, to pay back expenses he claimed for adverts in local Liberal Democrat leaflets and magazines.

Responding to the publication of some of Paul Rowen's expenses, Mr Danczuk said he was shocked to see Rochdale's MP had claimed £700 per issue to advertise in political leaflets. "Paul Rowen is effectively using taxpayers' money to pay for the print and design costs of producing party political propaganda," he said. "This is not on. He is not 'putting Rochdale first' as the sign above his door suggests. He's putting the Liberal Democrats first. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for Liberal Democrat leaflets."

Among other expense claims made by Paul Rowen include his £1,000 advertising hoarding at Rochdale Football Club, £6,000 for an envelope stuffing machine, £49 for a bin and £1,850 for food.

"Paul Rowen is in the top ten percent of highest claiming MPs and is not giving the electorate good value for money," added Mr Danczuk. "To charge £700 for adverts for his MPs surgeries, which I don't think he should be claiming for anyway, is not good value for money when he could have got this advert cheaper in a local newspaper. He's overcharging to subsidise Liberal Democrat leaflets and this is wrong. I hope he follows the example set by other Lib Dem MPs like Chris Huhne and pays the money back that he should not have claimed for."