Speaker Hoyle Accused of Evading Scrutiny Over Expenses Publication Change
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, faced sharp criticism on Sunday night after it emerged he is altering the rules governing the publication of his travel expenses. The move, described by critics as an attempt to avoid public scrutiny, will see his transparency register updated quarterly instead of monthly.
From Monthly to Quarterly: A Transparency Downgrade
Sources revealed to the Mail that changes are underway to Sir Lindsay's 'transparency' register, with the frequency of publication shifting from monthly to quarterly. This adjustment means the Speaker, who has been dubbed 'long-haul Hoyle' due to his extensive foreign travel funded by taxpayers, will now face questions about his expenses only four times a year rather than twelve.
In stark contrast, the other 649 Members of Parliament in the Commons are required to update their register of interests and publish details every single month. This discrepancy has led to accusations that Sir Lindsay is setting a poor example for transparency in public office.
Mounting Criticism and Calls for Accountability
The decision has been branded as 'cowardly' by opponents and campaigners. Notably, Sir Lindsay has not made any details of his travel expenses, gifts, or hospitality received public since August of last year, raising further concerns about accountability.
Former Tory Cabinet Minister David Jones emphasised the importance of the Speaker's role, stating: 'The Speaker occupies a unique and highly respected constitutional position, and I am sure Sir Lindsay will want to do the right thing. Precisely because the Speaker is the guardian of standards in the Commons, transparency around expenses and hospitality should be at least as rigorous as that required of other MPs.'
He added, 'At this time above all others, when public trust in politics is very fragile, openness matters as much as the rules themselves.'
William Yarwood of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group was equally forthright: 'The Speaker will look like a bit of a coward if these changes are brought in and continued. Taxpayers deserve transparency from politicians, yet the Speaker is setting a terrible example to other MPs that it's acceptable to try and hide from public scrutiny. The Speaker should commit to continuing with the monthly releases.'
Revelations of Lavish Taxpayer-Funded Travel
This controversy follows a series of revelations published by the Mail last year, detailing how Sir Lindsay accumulated substantial bills through first and business class flights worldwide, coupled with stays in luxury five-star hotels. Information obtained via Freedom of Information requests showed expenses beyond his official transparency log.
Since becoming Speaker in 2019, Sir Lindsay has spent more than £320,000 on over two dozen 'non-regular travel' trips. The majority of this expenditure occurred over the past three years, coinciding with the period when travel was largely grounded due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key aspects of his travel spending include:
- Over £200,000 on first and business class plane tickets alone, as he refuses to fly economy.
- Tens of thousands more on chauffeur-driven cars, luxury resorts, and high-end restaurants.
- Accommodation costs reaching up to £900 per night, such as a £679-a-night stay at the Westin Grand in the Cayman Islands.
- Trips that included his wife and up to four staff members on several business journeys.
Questionable Expenditure and Specific Trips Under Scrutiny
Some of the taxpayer-funded bills appeared to have tenuous connections to his official role. These included giving speeches at the University of Gibraltar, where he serves as Chancellor, and at the University of California.
A particularly costly excursion took place during February half-term last year, with a trip to Malaysia. The breakdown of expenses included:
- £23,264 for business class flights.
- £1,163 for hotels for Sir Lindsay and two staff members.
- £418 on 'meals and subsistence'.
- Nearly £300 on taxis and other ground transportation.
The purpose of the visit was to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to meet with the country's Parliament and to the province of Sarawak on Borneo for meetings with local officials. Sir Lindsay described the experience as 'wonderful'. Only a trip to Canberra, Australia, in January 2023, which cost £40,599, exceeded this expenditure.
Defence and Historical Context of the Publication Change
Sources close to Sir Lindsay clarified that while the publication of expenses incurred in his capacity as Speaker will reduce to quarterly, his expenses as the MP for Chorley will continue to be published monthly. A spokesman explained: 'Data around meetings and overseas travel will be published quarterly to ensure all invoices and data can be properly finalised and collated. This data will be published in due course.'
Historically, Sir Lindsay published his expenses quarterly between 2019 and December 2024. He switched to monthly publication in January 2025 following changes to the ministerial code, which aligned the rules governing his expense disclosures. However, he has now decided to revert to quarterly publication in the wake of the Mail's extensive revelations about his travel spending.
The shift back to a less frequent reporting schedule has intensified debates about accountability and transparency in political office, particularly for a figure tasked with upholding parliamentary standards.
