An Oxfordshire MP who spent taxpayers’ money furnishing his constituency home, last night said he had repaid the cash because of the outcry over Parliamentary expenses.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, who revealed that he had claimed £2,000 – all within Parliamentary rules – to buy a table, chairs and a sofa for his house in Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, said that after thinking “long and hard”, he had come to the view that returning the sum was “the right thing to do”.

Tory MP Mr Vaizey said he had repaid the claim to the House of Commons Fees Office, ahead of Tory leader David Cameron’s announcement, on Tuesday, that several members of his shadow cabinet would have to return cash received under the controversial second home allowance.

As reported yesterday, Mr Cameron apologised for the “unethical behaviour” of some Conservatives, whose claims covered dog food and a ride-on lawnmower, among other purchases.

The Witney MP said he would be paying back his own claim for a £680 bill for repairs to his home in Dean, near Charlbury, which included clearing wisteria and vines from a chimney, replacing outside lights and resealing his conservatory roof.

Details of all MPs’ expense claims over a four-year period are due to be published officially by the Commons authorities in the next few weeks following a freedom of information battle.

Mr Vaizey, whose allowances have not yet been disclosed, told the Oxford Mail: “I’m fairly comfortable with my expenses. I have paid back money I spent on furniture because it was the right thing to do.

“This whole thing has given everyone pause for thought, and the environment has completely changed.

“It is irrelevant whether or not MPs thought it was acceptable.”

Mr Vaizey, who was first elected in 2005, argued that as a relative newcomer to Parliament, his recent expenses were likely to be different to those of his fellow Oxfordshire MPs, who, with the exception of Henley MP John Howell, have had several years to furnish their second homes.

He added: “Even so, given what people feel, it’s right that I will pay back for the furniture. I thought long and hard over the weekend and I did this privately, before David Cameron made shadow cabinet members pay it back.”

His claims for the latest year were only for mortgage interest, council tax and the cost of utilities, Mr Vaizey said.

Earlier this week, other Oxfordshire MPs predicted their claims under the second homes allowance, when published, would appear relatively straightforward compared with some of the more controversial claims documented over recent days.

Andrew Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East; Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and Tony Baldry, Conservative MP for Banbury, said that anyone looking for scandal would be disappointed.

The claims, which relate to the period between 2004/05 and 2007/08, cover Boris Johnson’s period as MP for Henley.