𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Parliamentary questions have revealed that thousands were splashed on canapés and drinks at a reception in the Palace of Westminster so MPs could talk about the progress of rail nationalisation.

Shadow Transport Secretary, Richard Holden MP, savaged the spending saying: “As passengers are being told to tighten their seatbelts, Labour are busy grazing on canapés on the taxpayers tab so a state-run industry can influence Labour MPs in Parliament, funded by the very people who pay their fares!”

The staggering figures revealed that transport bosses had spent £5,470.87 for one meeting, splashing out taxpayers’ cash on drinks and canapés so MPs could chinwag with nationalised rail providers.

Mr Holden raged: “Any MP could have booked a committee room for free, instead Heidi Alexander spent five and a half grand for tea, soft drinks and a taxpayer-funded pit stop. This is the same Government that claims it is cracking down on hospitality – but for Labour that clearly stops at the taxpayer funded buffet for its own state-run companies.”

He added: “Labour is always happy to let the meter keep running, as long as it’s taxpayers paying.”

Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Taxpayers will struggle to see why their money was spent on canapés and Westminster networking events for state-owned train operators.

“At a time of delays, cancellations and rising fares, ministers should be focused on improving services rather than hosting taxpayer-funded receptions.”

The department for transport declined to comment when approached by the Daily Express.

But responding to the parliamentary question which revealed the figures, Keir Mather, a Labour MP said: “The event was held to provide parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with an opportunity to engage with publicly-owned train operators and to hear about the improvements that are being made.

“It continued functions of the same kind previously carried out by private sector operators for the same reasons and similarly represented a good use of modest public expenditure.

“It also provided a forum for Members of Parliament to discuss matters of interest to their constituents and to discuss progress being made under the Railway Passenger Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 as well as wider industry developments.”