JANET Dean admits she is looking forward to her retirement from politics in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal.

Mrs Dean, pictured, who will stand down as Uttoxeter's parliamentary representative at the next general election – has been praised for her "frugal" allowance claims, which have now been revealed in detail to the public.

However, as some of her colleagues in Westminster face police investigations into taxpayer-funded purchases, the 60-year-old loyal Labour backbencher is dismayed the affair has tarred all politicians with the same brush.

She said: "There are some expenses which have been revealed which I cannot defend, and wouldn't try to, but it is very sad a lot of good MPs have also been scarred. Reasons for some claims have been very good yet have gone unreported.

"I am pleased we will have the Kelly Report – a watchdog review of the system – because we need to address the understandable public anger. I had never even been aware of the idea of 'flipping' second homes.

"Now I am eligible for my bus pass I shall look forward to retirement, whenever it comes."

Mrs Dean – who swept to victory in the Burton constituency in 1997 – had already revealed her £17,261 claim for the additional cost of having to have a second home in London, including rent and council tax.

Last week, details of other claims came to light as Whitehall released 774 heavily redacted pages detailing all expenses claimed by the former Uttoxeter town councillor between 2004 and 2008.

The new documents show how Mrs Dean claimed costs ranging from a £145 vacuum cleaner and £40 microwave oven in February 2008 to a 35p pack of malted biscuits and 78p plain chocolate bar from Sainsbury's in January 2005.

But the mother-of-two stressed the importance of having financial support for MPs living outside the capital.

And Mrs Dean defended the employment of her daughter, Sandra Belcher, as a part-time case worker.

She said: "The opportunity to sit as an MP needs to remain available to everyone, rich or poor, so when new members enter office it is imperative they can afford to set themselves up in a flat.

"Around one third of MPs employ family members but one or two people have come under fire and it reflects badly.

"My daughter works extremely hard over very long hours."

Mrs Dean's replacement, Ruth Smeeth, is bidding to retain the Uttoxeter seat for Labour at the next general election. She will face competition from Tory Andrew Griffiths and Liberal Democrat Gavin Webb.

In the Lichfield constituency, which covers Abbots Bromley, MP Michael Fabricant admitted, after initial reservations, he welcomed the publication of expenses.

But he warned: "If MPs become bogged down in justifying every claim, they will have no time to resolve constituents' problems or scrutinise legislation properly."