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The Assembly Members who spend the most public money on employing staff have been revealed.

AMs are allocated a staff budget to assist them within their busy roles juggling constituency work with committees and sometimes roles in government.

Members do not have to spend the full allowance and there is significant variation in how individual AMs compare.

It ranges from more than £115,000 a year for the biggest spender to under £70,000 for the lowest spender. Two other politicians spent less but only because they had not been in office for the entire year.

Independent AMs are given a higher budget as they do not have the support of a political party.

The data applies to the last financial year (2018-19) and these are the biggest spenders:

Andrew RT Davies - Conservative

£102,655

(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

The former Welsh Conservative leader spends more on his constituency office than any other AM in one of the political parties.

One of these employees is his wife Julia, who is employed on a band that goes up to £35,182 a year. She has been in the post since 2007.

Mr Davies did not reply to requests for comment.

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Mark Isherwood - Conservative

£102,545

Mr Isherwood the second highest spending Welsh AM who is part of a political party.

One of these employees is his wife Hilary Isherwood who has worked as a constituency caseworker for five hours a week since May 2003.

When asked for comment Mr Isherwood said: "This related to temporary staff and overheads necessitated by maternity cover.

"My staffing expenditure fell entirely within the rules and allowances for all Members."

Vaughan Gething - Labour

£101,824

(Image: Mark Lewis)

Mr Gething, the cabinet secretary for health and social services since 2016 and the AM for South and Penarth did not reply to requests for comment.

However a spokesman for the National Assembly Labour Group said: “Welsh Labour AMs are fortunate to have loyal and supportive staff who play a vital role in the work they do in the National Assembly and their local constituencies.

All Welsh Labour AMs comply with the rules put in place by the independent Remuneration Board, which makes decisions about the pay and direct support for AMs to attract a wide range of capable and diverse candidates and to enable those elected to do their job effectively, with value for money, for the people of Wales.”

Neil McEvoy - Independent

£115,865

(Image: Richard Williams/WalesOnline)

Former Plaid AM Neil McEvoy spends more than any other Assembly Member on staff.

When asked for comment he said: "I try to make myself as available as possible and pick an enormous amount of casework as a result. I’m fortunate to be able to employ people to provide the best customer service possible to my constituents.

"As an Independent AM, the budget which used to go to Plaid, now goes to my office. I’m glad to have this extra, because I have been able to employ specialists in certain areas of casework. It’s a pleasure also to be able to provide employment and opportunities for people to work.

"I would say my office is far busier than the local Westminster MP. I therefore don’t think it’s right for AMs to receive less office costs than MPs."

Mandy Jones - Brexit Party

£113,418

(Image: walesonline)

Despite now being a member of a political group, over the time scale covered Mandy Jones was an independent and therefore qualified for more cash.

She did not respond to requests for comment.

Kirsty Williams - Liberal Democrats

£106,305

(Image: Rob Browne/Walesonline)

Minister for Education Kirsty Williams also receives extra money for staff as the Lib Dems do not have enough AMs to form a political group.

When asked for comment she said: "The staffing budget reflects the additional allowance I receive from not being in a registered group, and the fact I have staff with a combined 30+ years of experience in helping me provide a service to people in Brecon and Radnorshire.”

Caroline Jones - Brexit Party

£105,432

(Image: WalesOnline)

Caroline Jones was previously an independent and therefore eligible for extra money.

She spent up to £40,972 on her husband Alun Williams as a community caseworker.

She did not respond to requests for comment.

The table below shows the list of AMs in full. Names in blue are those entitled to additional funding for not being part of a a party group.

*Delyth Jewell was not in post for the entire year.