Lindsay Hoyle was engaged last night in a new row after recruiting a former lobbyist who gave him several all-paid junkets.
The speaker of Commons appointed Albert Poggio as an advisor and gave him a parliamentary pass, giving him access to commons libraries, bars and restaurants and the highest ranked politicians and officials in Westminster.
While the representative of Gibraltar in London, Mr. Poggio, 79, arranged different journeys for Sir Lindsay and other MPs to 'The Rock'.
It comes to the midst of questions about the other foreign trips of the speaker, who have left the taxpayers to collect a bill of £ 250,000 in the past two years alone.
The appointment of Mr Poggio, a gibraltarian businessman and political consultant, was never publicly announced, but he is mentioned as the 'speaker on OTS (Overseas areas)' in pamphlets produced by the office of Sir Lindsay and excavated by the mail.
The speaker's office confirmed that Mr. Poggio was made an adviser in 2021 and that it gave him a pass that he is told to be used regularly.
It is not suggested that Mr. Poggio did something wrong.
Critics said last night that it was 'difficult to see' why the appointment was needed and wondered if this was 'earned back' for the lush trips.
The speaker of Commons appointed Albert Poggio (photo) as an adviser and gave him a parliamentary pass
Displayed: Sir Lindsay Hoyle (far left) and Albert Poggio (far right)
Mr. Poggio gained access to commons libraries, bars and restaurants and the highest ranked politicians and officials in Westminster (stock image)
A spokesperson for the speaker said, “We definitely refute any suggestion or implication of inappropriateness.”
A four -day trip Sir Lindsay and nine other MPs attended in February 2002 include 'Dolphin Safariis' and tax -free shopping. It was part of a £ 1 million lobby campaign that was spent on MPs and colleagues by Mr. Poggio, who was the representative of the Gibraltar government in London in London before he retired in 2016.
He invited MPs for 'The Rock' to push the case to stay British, without interference from Spain.
Sir Lindsay enjoyed 11 trips to the territory as a member of parliament, dating from 1998, before he became the Commons speaker in 2019.
Former Minister of Cabinet David Jones said: 'It is hard to see why the speaker needs an adviser in the overseas areas. There is a support fund available within the Overseas Territories Association, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as well as the Commons Library.
“The speaker must therefore explain exactly what the tasks of Mr. Poggio are, the conditions of his contract and the benefits he enjoys under that contract.”
John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the alliance of the taxpayers, said: 'The speaker's activities are only becoming more dubious with every new revelation.
“The speaker must certainly realize that the only way to bring these problems into bed is open and transparent.”
Sir Lindsay enjoyed 11 trips to Gibraltar as a Member of Parliament, dating from 1998, before he became the commons speaker in 2019
The official portrait of the chairman of the Lower House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Figures obtained by the post revealed that Hoyle (depicted) spent an extraordinary £ 180,000 on airline tickets
The post last week revealed how Sir Lindsay has invoiced more than £ 250,000 in foreign travel costs since October 2022.
He has claimed almost £ 16,000 in costs for four trips to the rock since he became a speaker because he is the Chancellor of the University of Gibraltar.
Sir Lindsay's office has said that all costs incurred are as part of his 'responsibility to explain and promote the work of the house'. But in the midst of calls for an investigation, critics say that his Chancellor Rol has nothing to do with his commons track and taxpayers, the bill should not pay.
Mr. Poggio's X Social Media profile contained several photos of himself with Sir Lindsay, including campaigns for him to win his Chorley chair in Lancashire during various elections.
He is also broken in addition to various prominent politicians, including former Tory leaders David Cameron and William Hague.
The profile photo of Mr. Poggio was apparently taken in the house of the speaker, Sir Lindsay's Grace-and-Favour house on the parliamentary estate. The profile was deleted after the post had asked several questions to the speaker's office this week.
In January 2006, Sir Lindsay submitted a motion in the commons that Mr Poggio celebrated who received an OBE for the 'enormous amount of time and energy' he spent on promoting relations between the UK-Gibraltar and for establishing 'excellent relationships' with members of parliament.
He is a long-standing friend of Sir Lindsay and his ex-MP Late father Lord Hoyle, who also passed a 'research assistant' to Mr Poggio in the years Noughties.
The speaker's office confirmed that Mr Poggio (photo) was advised in 2021 and that it gave him a pass that he is told to be used regularly
During his trip to Australia, for a January 2023 conference, Hoyle (photo) became Billeted in the midst
The revelations of the post about Hoyle's editions have linked members of parliamentary members. Shown: hoyle
Employees of De Haunts in Gibraltar often visited Sir Lindsay and Mr. Poggio said they seemed to be good friends.
The speaker's favorite hotel is The Rock, and he is a familiar face in the Caffe Botega – a short taxi ride away in parliament Lane for Main Street.
A staff member, anxious not to lose the trade of his influential customers, said when he was shown the photo of Sir Lindsay: 'He is a good customer – I served him several times when he comes in with Albert Poggio.
“I assume they are discussing tourism to Gibraltar, but the Englishman is clearly a good friend of Poggio.”
An employee of the Rock Hotel said: 'They would have some meals here at Alfred's [restaurant]And drinks in the bar – but they also go out a lot, are won and dined by the Gibraltar government, even if they do not have bills paid by the UK. '
A spokesperson for the speaker said yesterday: 'In 2021, Mr. Poggio became an unpaid adviser of the speaker on Gibraltar and the British overseas territories, because of his long -term expertise in this area.
“He was never reimbursed for this role or claimed costs of the speaker's office. To perform these tasks, the speaker sponsored a parliamentary pass for Mr. Poggio. '
Mr. Poggio was not available for comment.
