Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing accusations of impropriety after it was revealed that he granted a parliamentary pass to Albert Poggio, a former lobbyist who arranged several all-expenses-paid trips to Gibraltar for the Speaker and other MPs. The appointment, made in 2021, has raised questions about whether it was a form of payback for the trips, which were part of a lobbying campaign to support Gibraltar’s status as a British Overseas Territory.
According to the Daily Mail, Poggio, who served as Gibraltar’s representative in London for 28 years, was appointed as the “Speaker’s Adviser on Overseas Territories” without public announcement. The role granted him access to the House of Commons and senior politicians, sparking criticism from MPs and transparency advocates.
Sir Lindsay has reportedly claimed nearly £16,000 in expenses for four trips to Gibraltar since becoming Speaker in 2019, with a total of 11 visits to the territory dating back to 1998. Some of these trips included leisure activities, such as “dolphin safaris,” funded by Gibraltar’s government as part of its lobbying efforts.
A spokesman for Sir Lindsay denied any wrongdoing, stating, “We absolutely refute any suggestion or implication of impropriety.” However, former Tory Cabinet minister David Jones called for greater transparency, urging the Speaker to clarify Poggio’s duties, contract terms, and benefits.
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