This manoeuvring has allowed him to claim thousands of pounds towards the costs of his family home in Edinburgh – and to buy a London flat furnished and mortgages at taxpayers’ expense.

In 2004/5 Mr Darling, then Transport Secretary, claimed his main residence was a small flat in Lambeth.

In September that year he told the parliamentary fees office that Edinburgh was now his first home and transferred his ’second home allowance’ to a flat near the Oval cricket ground that he bought for £226,000.

Taxpayers paid the £ 2,260 stamp duty and £1,238 in legal fees and in the first month Mr Darling claimed £2,074 for furniture, including £765 from Ikea and a £768 bed from Marks and Spencer.

Taxpayers also paid £2,339 to carpet the flat in ‘magnolia’ and the total bill claimed for furnishing the new flat was more than £9,500.

Mr Darling claimed a £146 hotel bill in September while the flat was being renovated, the minister successfully arguing that he was ‘between second homes.’

After being appointed Chancellor in 2007 he received a grace and favour Downing Street apartment and has declared that he is renting out his London flat.

He initially claimed that 11 Downing Street was his ’second home’ which, under parliamentary rules, meant the only expenses he could claim were for groceries.

Mr Darling claimed £300 a month for food but within a few months he changed his second home designation again, this time back to his Edinburgh property.

He has since claimed about £1,200 in council tax and mortgage but the loophole allowing ministers with grace and favour properties to continue claiming the second home allowance has recently been closed.

Mr Darling, who will now have to meet the costs of running his Edinburgh home, said:’ 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.’

The 1930s property was previously owned by Gordon Brown, who sold it in 1992 to fellow Labour MP Lewis, later Lord Moonie – who rented a bedroom to Mr Darling.