Coventry MP’s £900 ‘pet rent’ claim prompts review into MP expenses

An expenses claim made by Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West, has been met with scrutiny, with questions raised over whether taxpayers should be footing a £900 ‘pet rent’ bill.

The claim was made over a charge imposed by the landlord of Owatemi’s second home in London, which allowed her dog, Bella, to be kept at the property.

Despite the claim being legitimate and within parliamentary rules, criticism has still been mounted against Owatemi, who also serves as a government whip, over the nature of the claim which comes against the backdrop of a series of government cuts.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis has since said the government will urge the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) to change the rules regarding MPs’ use of expenses to cover pets.

We don’t think that those rules can be right and that’s why the government will flag it with IPSA

Dan Jarvis, Security Minister

Jarvis said on LBC that “the MP in question hasn’t done anything wrong in that she’s followed the rules as they are at the moment”, but he added that “we don’t think that those rules can be right and that’s why the government will flag it with IPSA”.

Owatemi’s position as a government whip has been the source of much criticism against her following the claim, as she continues to push through the Government’s controversial welfare reforms, which will tighten access to disability benefits, with estimated public spending savings of £3.4bn.

Disability campaigner Hannah Campbell criticised Owatemi’s claim, saying that: “It was a disgrace… it’s one set of rules for [MPs] and one set of rules for everyone else”.

She added that she felt elected officials were “not leading by example”.

It’s surely enough for MPs to get the rent on a second home paid for without the need to pick up the tab for their furry friends as well

John O’Connell, Chief Executive of the Taxpayer’s Alliance

Chief Executive of the Taxpayer’s Alliance, John O’Connell, claimed the use of public funding to cover animal costs was ludicrous.

“It’s surely enough for MPs to get the rent on a second home paid for without the need to pick up the tab for their furry friends as well”, he said, before adding, “no one begrudges a politician wanting a pet, but they should pay for the cost themselves”.

This recent scandal comes just after IPSA announced that MPs would receive a 2.6% pay rise this year, increasing the salary of MPs to £93,904 for 2025-26.

Owatemi’s usage of the expenses system has therefore incited further debate on the subject of elected office pay in the UK.

The Boar contacted Owatemi’s office for comment.