Chancellor Alistair Darling has claimed thousands of pounds in expenses towards the costs of his family's home in Edinburgh, by changing the location of his 'main home' four times in four years. His claims also allowed him to buy a fully furnished and mortgaged flat in London at the taxpayers' expense, The Daily Telegraph revealed. It is reported that he claimed £2,260 of his taxpayer-funded expense to cover stamp duty when buying the flat. The £226,000 flat near the Oval cricket ground also cost a further £1,238 in legal fees. His first month saw him claim £2,074 for furniture, including a £768 bed from Marks and Spencer, and carpeting the flat cost the public another £2,339. Mr Darling said in a statement yesterday: 'The claims were made within House of Commons rules which were designed to reflect the fact that MPs have to meet the cost of living in two places.'