House Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has received around 300 gifts in the last four years, including a variety of items such as alcohol, hampers, ties, cufflinks, and even bottles of chocolate.
The gifts have come from a range of foreign officials—ambassadors, lawmakers, and sometimes companies—and rather than donating them to his official residence or the council, he has chosen to keep many of these items.
Since 2021, his voluntary disclosure has noted approximately 80 bottles of alcohol, which include wine, champagne, whiskey, and rum, among others.
Additionally, Hoyle has received numerous other gifts, like 26 ties and cufflinks, skincare products from Korean diplomats, books, glasses, pet gifts, rugs, photos, and various decorative items.
Last Christmas, for instance, he was gifted hampers from Bahrain and Qatar and received a bottle of champagne and two bottles of wine from Anguilla. Pretty Patel, a Conservative MP and shadow foreign secretary, has sent him Christmas pudding for at least three consecutive years.
In some instances, he chooses to share these gifts with his office. For example, when the North Macedonian ambassador presented him with food and drink last November, he kept a bottle of smirnoff and a bottle of wine, while distributing four herbal teas and three ajibal (red chili sauce) to his staff.
The registry provides insight into the various complimentary gifts politicians are required to declare if they exceed £300 in value, whereas ministers only have to report gifts over £150.
“The Unlocked Democracy campaign group has prompted discussions regarding the House of Representatives,” mentioned Tom Brake, who leads the campaign.
He added that the £300 declaration threshold for MPs aligns with rules typical in the private sector, which can only accept official gifts.
Chief Minister Keir Starmer has previously declared a pair of high-value clothes and glasses given to him by Labour donor Lord Ally. After public backlash, he and other senior ministers agreed to refrain from accepting such gifts while in office.
A representative from the Speaker’s office remarked, “It’s common globally for speakers to give and receive gifts from high-ranking officials as a sign of friendship and to foster relationships between nations and parliaments.”
They further explained that decisions on whether to keep or display a gift depend on its potential significance to the speaker’s historic collection, stating that perishable items would remain with the Speaker personally or in his office.
Hoyle has also defended his expenditures related to official travel, totaling around £250,000 since 2019 across 199 trips abroad.
This amount factors in over £180,000 for first and business class flights, as well as meals at luxurious hotels and fine dining establishments.
In an interview last month, Hoyle asserted the necessity of representing his home both domestically and internationally.
“People observe the Prime Minister attending the G20 and G7, and I hold an equivalent position; state secretaries participate in international conferences,” he noted.
“We have two options: leave chairs empty by not attending, which doesn’t reflect well on the UK’s status. Furthermore, I intend to leverage my influence at these meetings to voice our stance. It’s essential to communicate truths to nations like China and Russia.”
When addressing such gatherings, he emphasized the importance of guiding discussions and condemning actions like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hoyle’s annual salary is approximately £160,000, and he resides in the Speaker’s residence within Westminster Palace.
