Latest news with #Owatemi
Euronews
31-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Controversy sparked by UK politician's 'pet rent' expense claim
ADVERTISEMENT A senior politician from the UK's governing Labour party has sparked controversy after claiming €1,076 (£900) in expenses for "pet rent". Taiwo Owatemi, who is a member of parliament (MP) for the Coventry North West constituency, had to pay the surcharge so that her cockapoo Bella could stay with her in her London flat. Although the politician broke no rules over the pet surcharge, her own party has said the guidelines should now be changed. Security minister Dan Jarvis told broadcaster LBC that Owatemi had done nothing wrong, but said he would not have filed the same expense claim. "I think it can't be right that the rules allow any member of parliament to do that," said Jarvis. "The government will be making representations to IPSA, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, to ask them to look very carefully at the detail of this particular rule," he added. British politicians who represent a constituency outside of London are allowed to rent a property in the capital, so that they can attend the House of Commons during the week. IPSA, the independent body which oversees politicians' expenses, told Euronews it was common for landlords to charge rent surcharges, adding that it had given Owatemi "incorrect advice" on how she should describe the cost that caused the backlash. "We have apologised directly to the MP and are sorry for any confusion," IPSA told Euronews, referring to Owatemi. Related UK PM Starmer announces major healthcare reform as public sector cuts take shape The body also said it was "committed to supporting a parliament where people without the private finances to fund working from two locations themselves are not prevented from becoming an MP". The controversy over the "pet rent" expense claim came just days after the British government announced sharp cuts to the welfare system. UK politicians are set to earn an annual salary of €112,284 (£93,904) after a recent pay rise.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP watchdog asked to review expenses after Midland MP's 'pet rent' claim
Ministers are set to request a Parliamentary watchdog to scrutinise certain expenses claims following revelations that a Labour MP claimed £900 in "pet rent" from the taxpayer. Security minister Dan Jarvis has defended his colleague Taiwo Owatemi, Government whip and MP for Coventry North West, stating she adhered to the rules when she filed the expenses claim in August last year. However, Jarvis acknowledged that the "rules can't be right" and confirmed the government's intention to prompt the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) to review the regulations. READ MORE: Exact date Brits should turn heating off to save money on energy bills The claim by Owatemi arose after her landlord at her second residence in London imposed an additional fee to accommodate the MP's dog, as reported by The Times newspaper. The parliamentary authorities processed and paid the claim, which did not contravene the existing rules on MPs' expenses, as reported by City AM. Discussing the matter with LBC, Jarvis remarked: "I wouldn't do that, haven't done that. Therefore, I think it can't be right that the rules allow any Member of Parliament to do that. "That is why the government will be making representations to Ipsa, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, to ask them to look very carefully at the detail of this particular rule. "It's important to say that the MP in question, she hasn't done anything wrong in that she's followed the rules as they are at the moment, but we don't think that those rules can be right and that's why the government will flag it with Ipsa." Jarvis was questioned by LBC about the optics of a Labour MP claiming expenses for pet rent while the government is cutting benefits. He responded: "Yeah. That is why the government will raising concerns about this particular rule and we will pick that up with Ipsa." Owatemi often shares posts about her cockapoo, Bella, on social media. She also supports Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and other animal-related charities. MPs who have constituencies outside of London are allowed to claim back rent for accommodation in the capital. Ipsa informed The Times that it had agreed to fund the pet rent surcharge for Owatemi, but "gave incorrect advice as to how it should be described". "We have apologised directly to the MP and are sorry for any confusion," added the parliamentary watchdog.
The Guardian
30-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Minister attacks expenses rules after Labour MP's claim for ‘pet rent'
Ministers will ask the Commons authorities to consider changing rules which allowed a Labour whip to claim £900 in expenses to rent a pet-friendly flat in London. The government will lobby the independent expenses regulator to look at allowance rules after Taiwo Owatemi claimed for a pet surcharge demanded by her landlord to allow her to keep her dog in the property. The MP for Coventry North West made her claim last summer, and it was accepted by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). But Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said on Sunday he would not have made such a claim, and criticised the rules that allowed his Labour colleague to do so. Jarvis told LBC: 'I wouldn't do that, [I] haven't done that. Therefore, I think it can't be right that the rules allow any member of parliament to do that. 'That is why the government will be making representations to Ipsa, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, to ask them to look very carefully at the detail of this particular rule.' He added: 'It's important to say that the MP in question hasn't done anything wrong in that she's followed the rules as they are at the moment. But we don't think that those rules can be right and that's why the government will flag it with Ipsa.' Owatemi has been contacted for comment. The MP, who has a cockapoo called Bella, made her expense claim last August for her rented property in south-east London, where she pays £2,340 a month in rent. Ipsa listed the £900 surcharge as a claim for 'pet rent'. Parliamentary rules allow MPs who represent constituencies outside London to claim for the rent on a property in the capital to allow them to attend late-night votes and do other Commons work during the week. Owatemi has previously posted about her love of animals, including a post to mark National Pet Day with a photograph of her and Bella together. She wrote: 'Today we celebrate the joy our pets bring to our lives.' Hannah Campbell, a disability rights campaigner, told the Sun on Sunday: 'When disability money is being cut, to hear that an MP has received £900 for a dog really is shocking.' MPs are to vote in May on the government's plans to cut disability support payments for hundreds of thousands of people over the next four years.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP's extradition plea after hit-and-run death
An MP has written to the Latvian ambassador to the UK to seek the extradition of a man suspected of killing a 12-year-old boy in a hit-and-run. Keaton Slater died after being hit by a black BMW in Coventry while on his way home from school on 14 June last year. Police believe Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, is in Latvia. Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West, met with Keaton's parents on Tuesday to discuss road safety measures and the latest extradition efforts. Louise and Clint Slater have been campaigning to have Mr Aleksanders extradited ever since he was named by police as a person of interest shortly after the crash last summer. Their petition calling for him to return to the UK has received nearly 70,000 signatures. Ms Owatemi, Labour, said she was hoping to meet with the Latvian ambassador Atis Lots to discuss an extradition agreement. Ms Owatemi said that the extradition process was unlikely to take place at the moment because a treaty was never agreed between the two countries following Brexit. But she said given the circumstances of a boy's death, the process "shouldn't be a political issue". Otherwise, she said, it would send "the wrong message" over matters of justice and "that shouldn't be the case". She said authorities should be given the chance to engage with those suspected of offences. She said she was "pleading to the ambassador to work with us". Mr and Mrs Slater met the MP at a road safety event where they launched another petition calling for more road calming measures in the Radford area of Coventry where their son was hit. Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Slater, said: "Nothing's happened since on road safety, so we just want to put a petition in place just to get more facilities to make people safer in this area. "Ever since my son passed away, people are still getting hurt from being hit by cars. "It's so frustrating because we don't want any family to go through what we went through - this nightmare for the rest of our lives." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Parents 'empty' on crash death boy's birthday Parents of boy killed in crash call for justice Funeral to be held for boy killed in hit-and-run £10k reward to find fatal hit-and-run suspect Do the right thing for Keaton, crash police say West Midlands Police
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Keaton Slater: MP's extradition plea after hit-and-run death
An MP has written to the Latvian ambassador to the UK to seek the extradition of a man suspected of killing a 12-year-old boy in a hit-and-run. Keaton Slater died after being hit by a black BMW in Coventry while on his way home from school on 14 June last year. Police believe Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, is in Latvia. Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West, met with Keaton's parents on Tuesday to discuss road safety measures and the latest extradition efforts. Louise and Clint Slater have been campaigning to have Mr Aleksanders extradited ever since he was named by police as a person of interest shortly after the crash last summer. Their petition calling for him to return to the UK has received nearly 70,000 signatures. Ms Owatemi, Labour, said she was hoping to meet with the Latvian ambassador Atis Lots to discuss an extradition agreement. Ms Owatemi said that the extradition process was unlikely to take place at the moment because a treaty was never agreed between the two countries following Brexit. But she said given the circumstances of a boy's death, the process "shouldn't be a political issue".Otherwise, she said, it would send "the wrong message" over matters of justice and "that shouldn't be the case". She said authorities should be given the chance to engage with those suspected of offences. She said she was "pleading to the ambassador to work with us". Mr and Mrs Slater met the MP at a road safety event where they launched another petition calling for more road calming measures in the Radford area of Coventry where their son was hit. Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Slater, said: "Nothing's happened since on road safety, so we just want to put a petition in place just to get more facilities to make people safer in this area. "Ever since my son passed away, people are still getting hurt from being hit by cars. "It's so frustrating because we don't want any family to go through what we went through - this nightmare for the rest of our lives." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
