MP’s £900 claim for her dog’s ‘pet rent’ prompts ministers to call for expenses review | Politics News

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The claim of a senior MP of £ 900 “Pet Rent” expenses urged ministers to ask for a review of what MPs could claim.

Taiwo Owatemi, a government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the claim after the landlord at her second home in London charged her extra to allow her Cockapoo, Bella, to stay with the property.

Parliamentary authorities paid the £ 900 claim, which was filed as ‘pet rental’ in August 2024, as it does not violate the current rules regarding the expenses of the MPs.

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It is not known how many other MPs demand for pet charges, as they are not normally listed separately, but are included in rental claims.

According to the rules, MPs, which will now earn £ 93,904 a year after a recent increase in payment, will be able to claim expenses to cover work and living expenses in London if their constituency is outside the capital.

Disability camp fighters called the claim a ‘disgrace’ as Ms Owatemi, 32, currently helps the government to push through £ 5 billion to cuts to disability benefits.

The taxpayers’ alliance has called on MPs to pay their pets out of their own pockets.

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Minister Dan Jarvis said the government would ask what MPs could claim to be reviewed


Security Minister Dan Jarvis has now said the government will request the Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority (IPSA) to change the rules.

He said Ms Owatemi followed the rules and did nothing wrong, but told LBC: ‘I wouldn’t do that, it didn’t do it yet. Therefore, I think it is not right for the rules to allow any member of Parliament to do so.

“Therefore, the government will make representations to IPSA, the independent parliamentary standards authority, to ask them to look very carefully at the details of this particular rule.”

Ms Owatemi, who became an MP in 2019, often places on social media about her dog, and is a proponent of Battersea dogs and cats home and other animal charities.

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IPSA told Sky News it gives the MP “wrong advice” on how to describe the surveillance.

“We apologized to the MP directly and are sorry for any confusion,” a spokeswoman said.

He added that IPSA is committed to helping MPs work in Westminster and their constituency, so that those without the private finances to do so are “not prevented from becoming an MP”.

“That’s why we finance accommodation costs within strict limits. It is often that landlords include extra surveillance in lease agreements,” he said.

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