What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Tory MP who was promoted to minister for Africa last week attempted to claim a £50 donation to charity on her parliamentary expenses.

Harriett Baldwin, whose new role includes organising humanitarian responses, charity and the use of UK aid in Africa, tried to claim back the money for a ticket for the Worcestershire Women of the Year 2013 Awards Ceremony.

But the proceeds from the ticket went to the St Richard's Hospice who organised the event.

According to the Telegraph, the claim, which was rejected by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), includes a copy of a thank-you note from a fundraiser at the hospice thanking the MP for her "generosity".

(Image: John Linton)

The £50 claim emerged after a freedom of information request was made by the paper.

Ms Baldwin submitted the claim to Ipsa as "hospitality," but it was rejected as it was not an "unavoidable cost" - as stipulated by the rules at the time.

Hospitality was permitted under the scheme when the claim was made.

Ms Baldwin, 57, has successfully claimed £1.1million from 3,075 claims since she became an MP in 2010, including 60 payments of £2 or less, one of which was a 45p reimbursement for a one-mile car journey.

It includes about £130,000 a year on staffing.

She told the Telegraph: "I attended an event as the local MP for which there was a ticket charge. The claim was rejected by the independent body responsible for verifying expense claims. I have every confidence in Ipsa and the job it does delivering transparency to the way MPs carry out their duties.

"I make many donations to local charities but of course they are made from my own resources."

She has previously held the posts of economic secretary to the Treasury, and parliamentary under secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence.