Should the taxpayer really foot the bill for an MP's dog? | LBC

Writer, broadcaster and former Conservative MP Edwina Currie had some sharp words after the news that Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi claimed £900 from the taxpayer so that her cockapoo could stay with her. Mrs Owatemi, who serves as Sir Keir Starmer's Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, had it approved to keep her pet dog Bella living with her at her second home in London. The expense form was submitted and approved just weeks after Labour won the 2024 General Election. Edwina Currie highlighted that this 'completely tone deaf and insane' move means the Labour MP 'took her winter fuel payment - just before the winter'. Nick Ferrari was also joined by Dr Adrian Hilton, Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham, who argued that if IPSA allows MPs to claim a larger house because of multiple children, then 'a dog is part of the family, and you don't abandon a dog just because you become an MP'. Listen to the full show on Global Player: https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/LBCYouTubeListenLive #nickferrari #labour #parliament #government #expenses #taxpayermoney #ukpolitics #uknews #dog #cockapoo LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup