A MERSEYSIDE MP last night claimed hate mail she received over her expense claims pushed her into standing down at the next general election.

Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas said the strain placed on her by some constituents was “too much” for her family.

She said her husband, Michael Jakub, was also confronted at her office and quizzed by angry callers, who implied they were “liars and evil”.

Matters got so serious the police, who are monitoring the situation, told Ms Curtis-Thomas they had enough evidence to prosecute two people under the Incitement To Hatred Act.

The hate mail attacks spanned the last four years and stemmed from her expense claims.

The 51-year-old, who splits her time between her constituency home and a London house, spent the maximum allowance given to MPs on staying away from home (£23,083), along with £97,656 on staffing costs and £14,187 on running her office.

Five years ago, she topped the list of MPs’ published expenses.

Ms Curtis-Thomas said she was sent envelopes of national press cuttings scrawled with insults.

She received threatening emails and a letter reading: “We would be better without scum like you. We will get our chance at the next election and you will find out what it’s like.”

Ms Curtis-Thomas added: “I would not be quitting if it had not happened. It became personal. There was too much.

“Some people think, as an expensive MP, I was somehow abusing the system.