Labour’s Shadow Cabinet charged thousands in expenses during lockdown, billing taxpayers for first-class travel, rent, TV licences – and even hand gel.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner, who boasts of ‘standing up for working people’, spent £30,952.98 including £1,600 on 23 first-class rail tickets between London and her Manchester constituency since March.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy spent £23,083.44 which she chalked to her expenses, including £8,883.35 on non-office rent and £475,67 in council tax – and £20 on hand-sanitiser gel, new figures reveal.

The Wigan MP, who has called for the British Army to be replaced with a ‘gender-balanced human security force’, also blew £2,298.50 on rail, including £334.50 on railcards.

Shadow Business Minister Lucy Powell billed British taxpayers £25,206.49 last year, including £1,141.10 on rail trips including £390 for first-class, £5.65 for postage and a £157 TV licence fee – as well as £35 in parking fares.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner, who boasts of ‘standing up for working people’, billed £30,952.98 in expenses to British taxpayers – including £1,600 on 23 first-class tickets between London and her Manchester constituency since March

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy spent £23,083.44 which she chalked to her expenses, including £20 for hand-sanitiser. Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth charged taxpayers £23,865.67, including £72.20 on taxis between his London home and Westminster

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Gill Furniss spent £19,506.31, including £7,136.72 on non-office rent and £780.78 in council tax.

She also travelled first-class 10 times as Covid-19 sparked government pandemic measures including the shutdown of most of the travel industry.

Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary, charged taxpayers £23,865.67, including £2,843.20 on travel, of which £72.20 was spent on taxis between his London home and Westminster.

According to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the taxis were justified because alternatives were ‘impracticable’ – a nod to coronavirus restrictions on travel, including the ‘stay at home’ diktat and the closure of several TfL Tube stations last spring.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appears to have billed taxpayers just £13,179.64 in office costs, including £907.62 on stationery

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Gill Furniss spent £19,506.31, including £7,136.72 on non-office rent and £780.78 in council tax. Shadow Business Minister Lucy Powell billed British taxpayers £25,206.49 last year, including £1,141.10 on rail trips including £390 for first-class, £5.65 for postage and a £157 TV licence – as well as £35 in parking fares

Mr Ashworth billed taxpayers £2,600 on rail trips and £11,427.17 on non-office accommodation including £9,625 on rent at £1,925 per month between April and September, and £1,501.63 on council tax.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appears to have billed taxpayers just £13,179.64 in office costs, including £907.62 on stationery.

Responding to the findings, John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance told the Sun on Sunday: ‘Standard class is good enough for most people.’

MailOnline has approached Labour for comment.

Labour claims expenses on first class travel, TV licences and HAND GEL, figures reveal

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