A Labour MP has claimed back £900 from the taxpayer in “pet rent”.
Taiwo Owatemi, a Government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the expenses claim in August last year, a document published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) revealed.
Ms Owatemi’s landlord at her second home in London issued the extra charge in order to let the MP’s dog stay at the property, according to The Times newspaper.
Parliamentary authorities paid the expenses claim, which is not in breach of the rules governing MPs’ expenses.
Labour defended Ms Owatemi’s expenses claim, with a party spokesman telling The Times: “MPs are required to work in two locations, and this is a requirement for living in this house.
“It is the same for many other MPs and has been approved by the parliamentary expenses watchdog.”
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