First Minister Peter Robinson has accused the Conservative Party of doing the work of Ulster Unionists in spreading stories about his political expenses.
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Both Mr Robinson and his wife Iris sit as DUP MPs at Westminster and as MLAs at Stormont.
It was claimed in a national Sunday newspaper and again in the Daily Mail that the couple cost the taxpayer over £570,000 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 World and the Daily Mail did 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."
The UUP and Conservatives last year made an electoral pact to field joint candidates in Northern Ireland at the next general election.
Advice centres
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.
"We have built up advice centres and I think it is right that politicians should be available to the constituents who elected them - that is what I will continue to do."
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 the Belfast Telegraph they were the lowest of the MPs from Northern Ireland - but people seemed to want to add them together.
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