Candidates hoping to take John Redwood’s Wokingham seat at the next election are urging him to wise up to the expenses crisis.

Mr Redwood has repeatedly refused to reveal whether he has been asked to repay money or provide more information on his expenses claims.

He also said it is “not for MPs” to express views on Sir Christopher Kelly and the Committee on Standards of Public Life’s announcement on how the system should be reformed.

But Prue Bray, Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, said his reaction was a sign he “still does not get” the public furore over MPs’ expenses and what needs to be done to rebuild the shattered reputation of Parliament.

She added: “I do not understand why he won’t say. It is public money.”

George Davidson, Labour’s prospective Parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, said: “It is odd that Tories like David Cameron, Theresa May and Rob Wilson are happy to reveal how much they have been asked to pay back. So why won’t Mr Redwood?

“Of the £82,000 he claimed between March 2004 and March 2008, I’m not disputing that some of that will be reasonable. He could have been asked to pay back anything from the £40 he claimed for a chimney sweep for his Berkshire home to the £8,555 to cover stamp duty.

“What people find most galling is he has always lectured the public sector on how wasteful and profligate they are with taxpayers’ money.”

Mr Redwood would be affected by several of the changes proposed in the reform, including the scrapping of claims for a second home for MPs “within a reasonable commuting distance of Parliament”, although earlier this year Mr Redwood announced he would stop claiming second home allowance.

Under the recommendation the communication allowance would be abolished. Mr Redwood makes good use of this - in 2007 to 2008 he claimed more than £9,000 to produce and distribute leaflets to constituents.

Changes could also include preventing MPs from employing family members.

Mr Redwood once employed girlfriend Nikki Page as a political assistant and researcher for several years before their break-up.

The couple lived in a London home then designated as Mr Redwood’s main home, while his Finchampstead house was designated as his second home.

Mr Redwood said on his blog: “As someone who does not employ a relative, I think a blanket rule against all such existing contracts may be enforceable given current employment law.”

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