The Speaker of the House of Commons (the first level of the British Parliament), Lindsay Hoyle, has received and kept nearly 300 gifts over the past four years, including wines, champagne, ties, bracelets, chocolates and other luxury items. These gifts come mainly from ambassadors, MPs and sometimes from various companies, as part of diplomatic practices and strengthening interstate relations, reports “The Guardian”.
The voluntary register published by Hoyle includes about 80 bottles of various alcohols, from wine and whiskey to rum and champagne. He also received 26 ties and skin care sets from South Korean diplomats, as well as books, pet supplies, rugs, paintings and decorative objects.
Last year, he received gift packages from Bahrain, Qatar and Anguilla, including alcohol and food products. Priti Patel, the Conservative MP, has sent him a traditional British Christmas pudding for at least three years in a row.
Although there was no legal obligation to declare gifts under £300, Hoyle chose to make them public to ensure transparency. His spokesman explained that gifts are reviewed to see if they have historical value for the Speaker's archive, otherwise they are kept by him personally or distributed in the office. (A2 Televizion)
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