ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Commons Speaker John Bercow today revealed his office spends thousands of pounds on beeswax candles, tuning a grand piano in his official home and lavish hospitality for VIPs.

He also revealed that official expenses include posting out photographs of himself to admirers around the world.

However, the first detailed accounts of how his office uses taxpayers’ money also revealed that Mr Bercow has cut the bills by a fifth, from £626,029 in 2009-10 to £504,737 in 2014-15.

Among recent items was a £2,057 “standing down” dinner for ex-Deputy Speaker Dawn Primarolo when she retired. A meal to honour the Australian Speaker in May 2014 cost £1,954.

Dinners were regularly hosted for senior MPs who assist the Speaker, though not attended by him.

One event involved a drinks bill of £476, including 10 bottles of sparkling Chardonnay, seven bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, 11 bottles of Merlot and a £52.97 tip. An order of “beeswax hand-finished candles” in July 2012 amounted to £1,023. Another batch of candles last July was £924.

His spokeswoman said they were used for official dinners in the State Rooms and bought in bulk.

Official portrait photographs of the Speaker and senior officials were taken at the State Opening of Parliament and cost £307 in November 2014.

In December 2012 there was a £210 order of “350 6x4 presentation portrait prints”. The spokeswoman said: “This refers to postcard-sized prints of the official photograph of the Speaker which are sent out on request.”

Since 2012 tuning the grand piano in Speaker’s House has cost £286. The spokeswoman said the piano was kept in the State Rooms and was “available for members to use upon request”.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance political director Dia Chakravarty said: “No one will begrudge footing the bill for the official functions which the Commons Speaker would reasonably be expected to host but these costs must be kept under constant review and savings found where possible.”

The Speaker’s spokeswoman said: “These costs relate to nearly four years of expenditure — including, among other things, staff pay, office supplies, telephone calls and rental.

“There is also the official entertainment of foreign dignitaries and parliamentarians traditionally provided by the Speaker’s Office.

“The Speaker is committed to cutting costs wherever possible and the overall fall in expenditure of the Speaker’s Office during his tenure represents a reduction of 19.4 per cent since he was elected to the role.”