by OUR POLITICAL STAFF
The latest edition of Private Eye magazine includes a "Summer of Freebies Special" which catalogues the generous hospitality dished out by companies to Westminster MPs who somehow found time to attend prime sporting events and escape from their demanding political life for a short while.
The long list of beneficiaries included the two members of parliament with constituencies in the Scottish Borders who were the recipients of 'freebies' on the same day and at the same venue.
John Lamont (Conservative), the member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, and his Tory colleague David Mundell who represents Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale along with Douglas Ross, their party leader in Scotland were treated to a day at Wimbledon's All England Tennis Club for the championships on July 4.
The day out "with associated hospitality" was provided for the three MPs by Diageo, Scotland's largest whisky producer which owns a range of drinks brands including Guinness and Johnnie Walker.
According to the latest entries in the House of Commons Register of Members' Interests the value of the entertainment provided for each of the trio is given as £475.
At the same time the House was sitting on July 4th with a busy schedule for those in attendance. The 'official' summer recess did not begin until July 21.
On US Independence Day this country's MPs were given a detailed statement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson following the NATO, G7 and Commonwealth summits. following Education Questions.
In the evening there was a series of Divisions during a debate on the important Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. According to Hansard, the official parliamentary record of House of Commons proceedings the three Wimbledon attendees did not vote in any of the Divisions.
That was also the case when a vote was required to approve the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Regulations. The House finally adjourned at 10.19 pm.
Meanwhile in nearby Westminster Hall a three hour long debate heard multiple views and opinions on the subject of Assisted Dying.
The Private Eye coverage of the 'summer of schmoozing' ends with this observation: "Once a variety of other great British days out including golf at the Open and racing at Ascot are added in, up to about the middle of July, MPs had, by the Eye's reckoning, enjoyed more than 70 summer junkets owing to the generosity of paymasters who want something from them.
"Constituents who can afford neither to schmooze to get their views heard nor to pay for anything like the recreation their representatives get free of charge will surely be delighted for them".
No comments:
Post a Comment