The broadsheet listed the Aylesbury MP's name as being amongst those who are paying for public relations firms out of the public purse- which it alleged was against the rules as their is an 'explicit bar on advice for individual Members on self promotion, or PR for individuals or political parties.'

However, Mr Lidington, who paid firm Parliamentary Liaison Services (PLS) £1,115 out of expenses, said that this was for a business survey of the Aylesbury constituency, and because this is not political, it was completely legitimate.

He showed The Bucks Herald an e-mail he received from the House of Common's Department of Finance and Administration, authorising the survey to be paid for out of the Communications Allowance.

Mr Lidington said: "PLS directly talks to the House of Commons about what is allowed for MPs, and in any case I send the authorities a copy of anything I plan to be paid for by allowances in advance to make sure they approve it, to be double certain."

He said of the newspaper: "I think it is for them to explain how they came to write their story."

Expense claims released by the Tories last week for their MPs show that from April 1 to June 30 Mr Lidington claimed £4996 in rent for his flat in Westminster, £531 car mileage and £210 in rail fares.