Culture Secretary Maria Miller failed to turn up to the Hendon Conservatives' gala dinner after she was ordered to apologise for over-claiming her mortgage expenses yesterday.

The Hendon Conservative Association had advertised its “good fortune” at having secured Mrs Miller for last night’s event.

But just less than 30 people turned up to the £75-a-ticket event at Allianz Park, with rumours suggesting people were making a stand against Mrs Miller’s actions.

The Commons committee for standards found she had over-claimed her mortgage expenses as interest rates fell in 2009.

As a result she was told to apologise to MPs yesterday and was ordered to repay £5,800.

Sports Minister Helen Grant replaced Mrs Miller at last night’s gala dinner.

Speaking about Mrs Miller on a visit to Barnet today, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “I completely agree with the Prime Minister we need to move on now because what people here are talking to me about are jobs and housing. That’s the issues they want their politicians to be engaging in.”