Parliamentarians were said to be "battening down the hatches last night" ahead of an expected public backlash today, when House of Commons officials publish full details of their expenses.

Under the existing allowances scheme, MPs are entitled to claim for everything from TV licences and groceries to electrical equipment and travel.

Figures are expected to show that the 659 MPs are given an average of about £130,000 to pay for accommodation and to run parliamentary and constituency offices - which is separate from their salaries of £57,485.

Now, that's a lot of money.

To be more precise, that's a lot of your money.

Is it good value? Maybe. Are some MPs abusing the system to line their own pockets? We won't know until the full report is published later on today.

Of course, should there be significant differences in claims - especially between neighbouring MPs - some serious questions will have to be asked.

MPs are able to self-certify their expenses without proof - though they have to meet three tests: that they are allowable under the rules; they are claimable; and can be certified. So, who is holding the MPs to account?

The only people who should be able to do so, are each individual MP's constituents.

And that means you.

Voters who disapprove of the way their MP spends his or her parliamentary expenses can vote them out of office at the next election.

That's democracy - and yet another reason to make sure you exercise your right to vote.