by political editor Paul Francis

Kent MP Michael Howard -the former Tory leader - has firmly denied any wrongdoing after it was alleged he claimed thousands in allowances for gardening services.

The Folkestone and Hythe MP is alleged by the Daily Telegraph today to have claimed more than £17,000 in allowances for services provided by two gardening companies at his home near Folkestone.

Mr Howard insisted all his claims were "perfectly proper."

He is quoted in the Telegraph as saying: "By no means all the sums claimed were for gardening services. The person who looks after the garden at my second home also maintains the house. The claim, therefore, was for general maintenance, including the maintenance of the garden."

Audio: Michael Howard MP justifies the gardening claim

"I need a second home to perform my duties as a Member of Parliament and the maintenance of that home, including the garden, was a perfectly proper charge against the additional costs allowance."

According to the Telegraph, between 2004 and 2008, Mr Howard employed The Turned Worm Gardening Company in Hythe and another gardener to work on his property. Over four years, he received invoices from both which came to a total of £17,351.

Mr Howard said in a recent poll he was ranked the 17th least expensive Conservative and the 31st least expensive MP overall.

He wrote on his website on May 18: "The public are right to be angry about the conduct of those MPs who have abused the system."