MP defends secret London address

OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has defended her decision to keep the name of her landlord in London secret over fears it would compromise her safety.

The news comes after the expenses watchdog published a list of landlords who are paid taxpayer-funded rent by MPs after a Freedom of Information request.

A total of 51 MPs have kept their details private.

Mrs Abrahams said she had conversations with parliamentary officials about the information and her concerns.

She added: “Along with many other MPs who live alone during their working week in London, I requested that the name of my landlord wasn’t released to the media as it could have been used to identify my address and compromise my safety.

The move follows a row with MPs, who argued in the Commons last month that the information could be used maliciously.

Commons Speaker John Bercow said there was a “very real danger” that residential addresses could be discovered as a result of the details being released.
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