MP Keith Vaz has repeatedly refused to speak directly to the Leicester Mercury about the expenses scandal that has rocked Westminster.

We asked the representative for Leicester East and chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee to write an open letter to our readers explaining his personal claims for more than £80,000 over four years on his second homes, and his views on the issue as a whole.

Here it is in full:

"All Members of Parliament are acutely aware of the anger felt by local people at this time. Parliament needs to restore the trust of the public.

These are serious and important issues. The public has an absolute right to know what it pays its public officials and what it gives them in allowances and expenses and what they do with them.

It was this Government that introduced the Freedom of Information Act which has allowed the publication of MPs expenses, which I fully supported.

I have, to the best of my ability for the past 22 years, sought to represent my constituents.

After my family, the constituents of Leicester East are the most important part of my life and I have, on many occasions, prioritised the needs of my constituents above those of my family. I am glad to do so. It is a great privilege to serve.

An MP's salary is set externally. Currently it is less than some GPs and more than some headteachers.

We also get allowances. Everyone has access to this information on the internet. A century ago there was no pay for MPs, which meant that only the very rich could stand for Parliament.

The allowances are to pay for staff and offices. I was the first MP in the history of Leicester East to set up an office in the constituency.

Since January 2009, my offices have taken up 340 constituent cases and answered 471 calls. Weekly, my staff responds to 400 letters and emails. Since the beginning of May alone, I have attended over 20 meetings and spoken in the House 11 times. It is a very busy office.

The public is concerned with the "second home allowance". When I first got into Parliament we had frequent all-night sittings. This has got better in recent years, but I always work very late.

I believe that the whole of the additional costs allowance will have to be abolished.

This week, the Speaker announced that this would be drastically limited. However, since this situation may change with The Kelly Review, it would be sensible to claim this allowance only while the House is sitting.

The Prime Minister and the other Party leaders have united in their agreement of the need for change. I have already voted for change. I fully support the publication of expenses online.

I have always sought to be helpful to the Press.

From the moment this information was published in another newspaper I have responded. My office deals regularly with the local press.

The problem is the coverage of politics has declined in both the national and local press.

In the past week, I have been involved in a number of issues including Gurkhas, Sri Lanka, policing and human trafficking.

Sadly, none of this has been reported locally. Let's cover all aspects of politics and parliament, not just one, however important it is.

The election of a new Speaker and the changes that are being made daily give us a chance for a fresh start.

It is essential that MPs allowances are transparent and scrutinised by those who pay for them – you."