Sir Lindsay Hoyle defends £250,000 taxpayer-funded travel bill

Speaker's justification

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has come under scrutiny for his extensive taxpayer-funded travel, which amounted to over £250,000 for 19 trips since October 2022. Despite criticism dubbing him "long-haul Lindsay," the Commons Speaker defended his foreign jaunts, stating they were essential for his role and to support Ukraine.

Ambassador for the Commons

Sir Lindsay emphasized that part of his responsibilities as Speaker included representing the House both domestically and internationally. He highlighted the importance of attending interparliamentary events and using his platform to raise awareness about Ukraine and speak out against Russian aggression.

Luxurious travel arrangements

Freedom of information requests revealed that Sir Lindsay primarily traveled in First Class or Business Class, even for short flights to destinations like Dublin and Verona. His lavish spending on premium flights, totaling over £180,000 in just two years, has raised eyebrows among critics.

Unprecedented expenditure

The Speaker's extravagant travel habits have raised concerns, with none of his flights taken in economy class. His £250,000 travel bill in less than two years surpasses the spending of his predecessor, John Bercow, who took a decade to accumulate a similar amount in travel expenses.