Northern Ireland's First Minister today accused the Conservatives of doing the work of Ulster Unionists in spreading stories about his political expenses.
Both Peter Robinson and wife Iris sit as Democratic Unionist Party MPs at Westminster and as Assembly members at Stormont.
It was claimed in a national Sunday newspaper and again in the Daily Mailthat the couple cost the taxpayer £571,939.41 a year in salaries and expenses.
Between them they employ three of their children and a daughter-in-law.
Mr Robinson said the newspaper’s headline of "Cost of Swish Family Robinson" was meant to be offensive.
"It is intended to be offensive, it is an Ulster Unionist phrase that they have used consistently. I think we need to be clear, the News of the Worldand the Daily Maildid not come across this story.
“This is the Conservative sleaze department that is putting it out. It is very deliberately being put out by the Tories on behalf of the Ulster Unionists.
Mr Robinson said he and his wife could easily cut their expenses by slashing the service they provided in their constituencies.
Speaking at Stormont he said: “I could reduce expenses tomorrow if the people of East Belfast wanted me to. I could close advice centres, I could reduce the service that I have.
“I don’t believe that is in the interests of East Belfast nor does my wife believe it is in the interests of the people of Strangford," he said.
Mr Robinson said his “crime” was to be married to someone who was also in politics.
He said he noted when their expenses were first published by a local paper in the North they were the lowest of the MPs from the North but that people seemed to want to add them together.
PA