A CONTROVERSIAL MP at times, Ms Curtis-Thomas sparked anger when she tried to seek Parliament’s permission to raise Tunnel tolls.

In 2000, she sought to change the Transport Act, giving Merseytravel power to push up prices without the need for a public inquiry.

She sponsored the BIll but it failed in its first hearing when she sat in the wrong part of the Commons and the debate was cancelled.

Despite opposition, the changes were passed by 10 votes in the House of Lords in 2004.

A year later, tunnel tolls were increased.

In 2003/2004, she had the highest expenses of any MP, and was second highest in 2002/2003.

The figures covered everything from travel expenses, a London home and postage bills.

One of her popular achievements was in June, 2006, when she tried to confine “lad mags” to the top shelf.

She received an unopposed first reading of the Regulation of Sale and Display of Sexually Explicit Material Bill, but it never became law as it ran out of time.