Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, now finds himself embroiled in controversy over his jet-setting lifestyle at the taxpayer’s expense. Friends and allies claim there’s a “diabolical plot” by woke Labour MPs to unseat him, but the real issue is not some ideological coup—it’s the unflattering revelations about his conduct while in office.
Since October 2022, Sir Lindsay has reportedly spent £250,000 on 19 foreign trips, including visits to the Cayman Islands, Los Angeles, Gibraltar, and Italy. Some of these trips were repeated—four to Gibraltar alone cost £16,000—raising serious questions about their necessity. His office insists that his wife, who accompanied him on some occasions, covered her own expenses, but this does little to soften the optics of a Speaker who appears more focused on international travel than on maintaining the dignity of his office.
Sir Lindsay has defended his trips by claiming they are essential to “strengthening and renewing the UK’s ties with the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories.” But does he really need to visit these places in person? Or is this just an excuse for an expensive and unnecessary tour on the public purse?
A tactical defence?
Faced with mounting criticism following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request that exposed his travel spending, Sir Lindsay’s allies are now attempting to reframe the debate. Their argument? That he is under attack by Labour’s “woke” faction, who are supposedly conspiring to replace him with a more ideologically aligned figure.
Among the names floated as potential replacements are Caroline Nokes, the Tory MP whose views on trans rights have set her at odds with much of her party, and Sir Chris Bryant, a prominent Labour MP. Another potential candidate is Nusrat Ghani, who, if chosen, would become the first Muslim Speaker—a prospect that some claim could appeal to Labour’s diversity-conscious MPs.
Framing the issue in these terms is a clever strategy. By suggesting that the alternative is a Speaker more aligned with Labour’s progressive wing, Hoyle’s defenders are trying to convince Conservative MPs and traditionalists to rally behind him out of fear of something worse. It’s the political equivalent of Hilaire Belloc’s famous warning: “always keep a hold of Nurse, for fear of finding something worse.”
A bitter disappointment
But no amount of political posturing can distract from the real problem—Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been a profound disappointment as Speaker.
When he was elected in 2019, he was seen as a steady hand, someone who would restore order after John Bercow’s divisive tenure. Bercow, a notional Tory, became infamous for his ego-driven leadership and perceived bias. In contrast, Hoyle was expected to be fair-minded, impartial, and grounded—a Speaker who would put the institution first.
Instead, he has undermined his own credibility. The image of the “bluff, plain-spoken Lancastrian” has been badly tarnished by his eagerness to take advantage of the perks of office. While his foreign travel may not be illegal, it creates the impression of detachment—of someone who has lost touch with the values he once stood for.
It’s the same kind of tone-deafness that outraged voters when it was revealed that wealthy donors had showered gifts on Labour frontbenchers, including Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer. Or when the Chancellor accepted free concert tickets while considering cuts to free school meals. There’s nothing technically unlawful about these actions, but they reveal a certain vulgarity, a lack of awareness of public perception.
Should we be defending hoyle?
Despite all this, there is a case to be made for keeping Sir Lindsay in post.
For all his misjudgements, he has generally done his main job well—presiding impartially over Commons debates. Even after the controversy over his handling of an opposition day debate on Gaza, for which he apologised profusely, he has largely upheld the integrity of the Chair. This is why senior figures like Sir Edward Leigh have come to his defence in the wake of the latest revelations.
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One long-time Hoyle observer summed up the dilemma well:
“The great thing about Lindsay is that he is not wildly clever. We had enough brains with Bercow. Lindsay is a bluff Lancastrian who is trying to preserve the dignity of his office. The problem is, the people around him should never have allowed him to embark on these foreign jaunts in the first place.”
The way forward
Let’s be blunt. Sir Lindsay Hoyle has brought much of this trouble on himself.
As Speaker, he earns a combined salary of £156,676 (which includes his MP’s pay of £79,468). He also enjoys a luxurious residence in Speaker’s House, one of the most prestigious addresses in Westminster. Surely, this is more than enough? He does not need to take Lady Hoyle with him on overseas visits, nor should he be making so many unnecessary trips in the first place.
To borrow an Irish phrase, he has “lost the run of himself.” The solution? He needs to get back to being the fair-minded, modest figure that MPs originally elected.
Otherwise, the calls for his resignation will only grow louder.
