Kemi Badenoch’s shadow ministers Stuart Andrew, Greg Smith and Louie French were off to the races last month – on the same day Parliament sat miles away in Westminster
Kemi Badenoch’s Tory shadow ministers were off to the races enjoying Royal Ascot freebies – on the eve of an historic assisted dying vote.
Stuart Andrew bagged two tickets with hospitality worth £550 to attend Ladies Day last month. Fellow shadow ministers Greg Smith and Louie French also went despite the daytime event falling when Parliament was sitting. Voters might have expected them to be hard at work in Westminster where debates took place on June 19 — and with MPs backing assisted dying the next day. But smartly-dressed Andrew was pictured glass in hand, enjoying the Ascot jolly.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport’s partner who posted the image on social media even boasted about it being “the hottest day of the year”. It comes after PM Keir Starmer and Labour ministers found themselves under fire last year over taking freebies.
Dozens of miles away from Ascot, the Commons had a busy schedule on June 19, meeting at 9.30am and not adjourning until 5.17pm. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, the Solicitor-General, Lucy Rigby, and the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, faced questions. Ministerial statements on UK infrastructure and warm home discount expansion also took place. Later, there was a motion to approve licensing hours for the Women’s Euros, as well as debates on incontinence and water safety education.
It is not known whether the Tory shadow ministers attended Parliament at all that day but with Ascot’s gates opening at 10.30am and races starting at 2.30pm it would have given them little time at their desks. The trio voted against the assisted dying bill the following day.
Andrew’s tickets with hospitality came courtesy of Ascot Racecourse Ltd, the MPs’ register of financial interests shows. His partner, Robin Rogers, deputy chairman for politics at Daventry Conservative Association, posted pictures of the couple on Instagram. He wrote: “What do you do on the hottest day of the year? [sun emojis] It’s obvious isn’t it? Get trussed up like a turkey and head for Ascot!!!” With a series of horse and drinks emojis, he added: “Not complaining today it’s the Royal enclosure all the way!!”
Shadow Sports Minister Louie French got two tickets “and lunch with representatives of Ascot and British Horseracing” worth £590 on June 19, thanks to Ascot Racecourse. Tory Shadow Business Minister Greg Smith joined the fun, accepting two tickets worth £590 from Ascot Racecourse Ltd so he and a family member could go on the same day. In an earlier comment piece about assisted dying, Smith argued “we can all agree that the process for introducing such a consequential piece of legislation needs to be rigorous and thorough”.
And Tory MP and ex-minister Sir John Whittingdale – who also voted against the assisted dying bill – bagged hospitality and two tickets worth £3,600 to attend Ascot on June 19 too, courtesy of the Betting & Gaming Council. Andrew, French, Smith and Sir John were contacted for comment.
A Conservative Party Spokesperson said: “Racing is a valued part of the British economy, supporting 85,000 jobs and generating £4 billion a year. The industry is now under threat from Labour Government red tape and taxes.”