MP defends her travel expenses after operation

A TYNESIDE MP who is disabled and has significant back and neck issues has defended her use of taxis on expenses - saying it had been recommended by Whitehall’s own health and wellbeing service after she had a serious operation.

- SAM VOLPE

Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, said the operation had “not helped her disability”.

This comes after the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) announced on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into whether Ms Osborne had breached spending rules.

It said its investigation related to spending on travel and subsistence costs, and “miscellaneous costs and financial assistance”.

Ms Osborne, who has been an MP since 2019, said the spending had been around use of taxis since a February operation. In a statement, she said: “Whilst this operation was a success it has not helped my disability, it has highlighted other issues and I am afraid has left me still in a lot of pain which the consultant has said will be for the rest of my life.”