An MP accused of being “Cumbria’s most expensive” has defended his expenses and said they represent the greater volume of work he undertakes on behalf of his constituents.

Westmorland Conservatives criticised Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, after figures show he claimed the most expenses among the county’s MPs.

South Lakeland councillor Tom Harvey said: “When our MP is ranked amongst the highest when it comes to claiming expenses the public have a right to ask whether they’re getting value for money.”

Between August 2017 and August 2018 Lib Dem MP Mr Farron claimed a total of £201,921.96 in expenses.

This was just £700 more than Copeland MP Trudy Harrison (Conservative) who claimed £201,202.28; followed by £194,583.67 claimed by Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock (Independent); £177,219.85 claimed by John Stevenson (Conservative) who represents Carlisle; 176,696.54 claimed by Workington MP Sue Hayman (Labour); and £170,387.50 claimed by Penrith MP Rory Stewart (Conservative).

Mr Farron’s spokesman said: “Tim’s expenditure is slightly higher than other MPs in Cumbria because he makes full use of the available budgets which allows him to do a lot more casework than most other MPs and therefore help a lot more people – whether that be getting someone’s child the vital mental health treatment that they were being denied or getting someone their benefits reinstated.”

His office provided figures from Cumbria County Council which show that in 2017 Mr Farron submitted a total of 246 enquiries to the authority.

John Stevenson submitted a total of 47 enquiries to the council; Sue Hayman submitted 42; Rory Stewart submitted 27; John Woodcock submitted 18; and Trudy Harrison submitted 14.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP accused the Conservatives of “launching desperate attacks” against him.

“My job is to serve local people and to work incredibly hard for them so I’m proud that we have one of the busiest constituency offices in the country and that means we are able to get things done to help local people,” Mr Farron said.

“I always keep the costs that my office and I incur as small as possible, but never at the expense of doing my job properly.

“While South Lakes Conservatives desperately launch personal attacks from behind their keyboards to disguise from the fact that their party is making such a mess of our country, we are getting things done – getting vital flood defences to protect local families, running a free train service on the Lakes Line when our rail companies gave up on us, and bringing life-saving chemotherapy to the South Lakes.”