ST ALBANS MP Anne Main could pocket thousands of pounds in profit on her taxpayer-funded home, it has been revealed on the same day David Cameron warned he would be clamping down on those abusing their entitlements.

Mrs Main, whose main home is just 24 miles in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, has claimed on a second home, which she has shared with her daughter in central St Albans since she won the seat for the Conservatives in May 2005.

She bought the flat in Samuel Square, Pageant Road, for £249,000 in November 2006 and has subsequently claimed mortgage interest of between £600- £1,100 every month.

Mrs Main told the Review last week that her second home was in negative equity. She said: "Purchasing a property in October 2006 means that I needed to personally contribute £25,000 as a deposit and I am also facing the possibility of being currently in significant negative equity, which I personally will be bearing the cost of."

But the Review can reveal that properties within her postcode have been selling at an average of £322,000 in the last 12 months.

This means Mrs Main could cash in on £70,000, should she decide to sell.

Political rival LibDem parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington said: "I don't think any member of parliament for St Albans should have a second home. When someone buys a second home any capital gain should go to the treasury.

Labour counterpart Roma Mills: "The whole purpose of second homes is to enable people to attend the House of Commons - it isn't supposed to be an investment activity.

"It's nonsense that representatives of the poeple can abuse the system to benefit themselves in such a way.

"People can't afford to get housing in the area, this has huge implications for our services. The fact that an elected member can acquire a second propoerty doesn't make sense."

The Review has approached Mrs Main for comment, but no one in her Westminster office was available.