NORTH Essex MP Bernard Jenkin says he has been “vindicated” after a retired judge slashed the amount of expenses he has to repay.

The Tory MP was ordered by House of Commons auditor Sir Thomas Legg to repay £63,250 claimed as rent for a farmhouse in Hatfield Peverel, which is owned by his sister-in-law.

But he appealed the ruling and now Sir Paul Kennedy, a retired High Court judge, has cut the amount he needs to repay to £36,250.

A rule change in 2006 meant MPs could no longer claim back rent paid to family members.

But Mr Jenkin said he had not been made aware of the change by the Fees Office.

Sir Paul has ruled that claims before the rule change are valid, but that Mr Jenkin still has to pay back anything claimed since then.

He told the Gazette that Sir Paul’s letter stated that he had not acted in “bad faith”.

He said: “I do feel vindicated by the fact that Sir Paul has overturned the original ruling."

* See Monday's Gazette for more