FEIGNING reluctance, as is the centuries-old tradition, Sir Lindsay Hoyle had to be dragged to the chair as he became Speaker of the House of Commons. But it seems there is a seat you really would struggle to coax Sir Lindsay into — one in economy class on an aeroplane going somewhere fancy.
£180,000 on First and Business Class flights
The lifelong socialist, who is MP for down-to-earth Chorley, Lancs, likes to travel in style at the front of the plane — with taxpayers, of course, footing the bill. Freedom of information requests reveal he lavished more than £180,000 on First Class and Business Class flights in just two years.
'Long Haul Lindsay'
Now dubbed "Long Haul Lindsay", the 67-year-old really doesn’t like turning right when he boards a plane. Sir Lindsay’s opulent travel arrangements had him run up a bill of £250,000 of taxpayers’ money on 19 jaunts since October 2022.
Luxurious stays and chauffeur-driven cars
Among Hoyle’s eye-watering expenses were luxurious stays at New Delhi’s Taj Mahal, the Four Seasons in Amman, The St Regis in Doha, Westin Grand in the Cayman Islands and the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles. The Speaker also enjoyed chauffeur-driven cars, five-star hotels, and lavish meals on his travels.
Exotic travels and international diplomacy
Why does Sir Lindsay Hoyle find it necessary to jet around the globe thousands of miles from Westminster? His spokesperson says part of the Speaker’s job is "to be an ambassador for the House of Commons" and that his trips "had tangible outcomes and demonstrate the important role of the Speaker’s soft power in international diplomacy."
Controversy and criticism
Former Tory Brexit minister David Jones raised concerns about the repeated use of taxpayers’ money on lavish trips. John O’Connell from the TaxPayers’ Alliance also commented on the high cost of Sir Lindsay’s luxury travel, stating that it is possible to travel comfortably at a lower cost.
Despite the controversy surrounding his travel expenses, Sir Lindsay Hoyle continues to represent the House of Commons on the international stage with his extravagant travel choices.
