“Good afternoon. This is IsAC’s Home Affairs Correspondent Ron Knee reporting on the growing scandal concerning the travel expenses of Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Now as well-versed followers of this site know, the Speaker presides over debates in the House, determining which members may speak, and which amendments are selected for consideration. He is also responsible for maintaining order during debate. A very important role in the work of government we can agree, but specific; this is done within the confines of Westminster. You’d think that there wasn’t much call for the Speaker to venture any great distance in the performance of his duties.
But not so in the case of Mr Speaker Hoyle. Sir Lindsay has itchy feet and likes to get out and about, and by that, I mean further than the Commons’ tea room. Oh yes, much further; so much so that in just two years, he’s taken himself off to such exotic and distant climes as Gibraltar, St Helena and South Africa, Canada, the US, Australia and the Cayman Islands. Nineteen trips in fact, raking up a tab of a cool £250k. in the process.
Naturally we aren’t talking about economy rates here. We’re talking hotels at £900 a night, and swanning around in the likes of the Ritz-Carlton in LA. There’s a five-day knees-up in the Caribbean costing £23k. There’s £4.5k on cars during one visit alone. And let’s not forget the dolphin safari. Yes, we’re talking superior class travel and accommodation all the way. It’s roll out the red carpet for ‘Long-haul Lindsay’, and guess who’s picking up the tab? Why, it’s you and me of course, Joe and Jane Taxpayer. Ironically, the only train that Mr Speaker can be seen boarding is the gravy train.
Funnily enough, Sir Lindsay’s little excursions always seem to be to what might be regarded as highly desirable locations rather than less salubrious destinations around the globe. Funny that. They’re often termed ‘fact-finding trips’, which to me is just Whitehall waffle for ‘junket’. Nice work if you can get it.
‘Ordure! Ordure, Mr Speaker!’ This is Ron Knee, for IsAC, returning you to the studio”.
Nominated by : Ron Knee