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AN MP has sparked a fresh expenses scandal after making taxpayers pick up the bill for her Christmas party.

Lib Dem Sarah Gibson took her team out to a restaurant for the festive dinner — before submitting an invoice for £154.

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Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi claimed expenses for ‘pet rent’[/caption]

It was approved and paid by the expenses watchdog IPSA, but appears to be in breach of the rules, the Taxpayers’ Alliance revealed.

Head of campaigns Elliot Keck said: “Taxpayers are sick of these penny-pinching politicians tapping them up for a cost they should be bearing themselves.

“This MP in particular gets access to a second home with bills and council tax all covered, yet she can’t even pick up the tab for a meal to thank her staff.”

Ms Gibson, 59, who represents Chippenham, Wilts, said: “As a small business owner for many years I have been used to taking my staff for a Christmas meal to thank them for their hard work.

“Though this claim for a modest meal for my team, who were all in London for work purposes, was permitted by IPSA I do accept in retrospect that as an MP the situation is ­different.”

The expense claim read: “Team Christmas dinner to say thank you for everyone’s hard work since July, removing alcohol and service charge.”

IPSA rules state hospitality costs for a team meal out at a pub or restaurant are not claimable.

MPs can claim the costs of food and refreshments for an office ­festive gathering — allowed as hospitality.

But “any event or gathering must be explicitly within a parliamentary and work context”.

It comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi claimed expenses for “pet rent” for her cockapoo in London.

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Laurie Noble

Lib Dem MP Sarah Gibson claimed expenses for her staff Christmas party[/caption]

The right-hander, drafted in the eighth round of the 2015 draft by Cleveland, has a 5.74 ERA in 38 big league games.

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CALLUM SIMPSON called on inspiration from his late sister Lily Rae to come from behind and stop Ivan Zucco to win the European title.

Simpson suffered the devastating news that his 19-year-old sister had tragically died last year in a quad bike accident on holiday in Greece.

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Callum Simpson beat Ivan Zucco[/caption]

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He scored three late knockdowns[/caption]

But the Barnsley boxing hero – who headlined at the Oakwell Football Ground – continues to fight in Lily Rae’s honour.

And she would have watched on with pride as her big brother came back to stop Zucco in round ten after three knockdowns.

Simpson, crowned the European super-middleweight champion, said: “Not once did I give up, those last few rounds I’ll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily.

“I’ll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody.

“This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard.

“From round eight, I thought, ‘I’ve got to dig deep, I’ve got to keep pushing, I’ve gotta do it for her. She was with me tonight.”

Simpson filled Barnsley’s 23,000-seater – but he got off to a horror start after being floored by only the second punch Zucco threw.

Simpson made it to his feet with little trouble but opted to try and make Zucco pay – and buzzed the travelling Italian himself before the bell sounded.

The opener was a frenzy of wild shots with both men hurt and the following two rounds was much of the same.

And again Simpson was down in round three after a huge left hand as the chaos continued.

The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight had to pick himself up and dust himself off to turn the fight around.

And that is exactly what he did with constant pressure in the second half of the fight turning the tide.

By round ten, Simpson was on the front foot and trapped Zucco in the corner – letting off a devastating triple uppercut.

It dropped Zucco – who got to his feet – but again he was pinned in the corner and floored with two of the same shots.

The underdog European once again made it to his feet but Simpson, smelling blood, jumped on Zucco and forced him to the floor with a barrage of shots.

This time there was no coming back for Zucco – as Simpson turned the fight on its head with a comeback victory for the ages.

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Smith was down twice himself[/caption]

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He came back and credited the win to his late sister[/caption]

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Simpson’s sister Lily Rae passed away in 2024[/caption]

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