AN MP says the blanking out of MPs receipts published online last week was over the top.

In the wake of the revelations over House of Commons expenses, Parliament published receipts dating back four years on its website on June 18.

However, huge chunks of the paperwork on display have been blanked out for security and privacy purposes.

Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill said he didn’t ask for anything to be edited out.

He added: “I saw in the newspapers all the complaints. I looked at mine and thought there is more taken out than need be.

“It does seem in some cases they blanked out overcautiously.

“I was perfectly happy they were published.”

He said that David Cameron was now thinking of having a system where receipts are published online on a monthly basis.

Defending his expense claims of £19,108 from 2007 to 2008 for his second home in Chislehurst, Mr Neill said: “I wouldn’t claim it if I didn’t think it was right to claim.

“Our family home has been in Essex for many years.

“These were the rules when I started. When the row broke out I could see the arguments for change.”

Mr Neill says that decisions about how much MPs should earn and claim must be with an independent body, rather than in-house.

He added: “I don’t think the House of Commons has handled it very well. In retrospect it was a mistake not to publish the receipts early on."

The Bromley and Chislehurst MP’s receipts did not reveal any unusual purchases such as a duck house, but he did have one late council tax reminder in June 2007 for which he said he had simply forgotten to set up the direct debit.

He said: “I thought there was no point hiding it. I’m sure I’m in the same boat as a lot of people.”

Second home allowances for those with constituencies within 20 miles of London will be stopped at the end of the year.

To see MPs receipts online visit parliament.uk