Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward's £70,000 luxury trips to the US... paid for by the taxpayer - News - Evening Standard
       

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward's £70,000 luxury trips to the US... paid for by the taxpayer

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward is under fire for spending £70,000 of taxpayers' money on three short trips to America.

Mr Woodward, who is married to supermarket heiress Camilla Sainsbury, flew first-class and stayed at some of the grandest hotels in Washington and New York, including the Four Seasons in Manhattan, where the cheapest rooms cost £350-a-night.

Within weeks of being promoted to the Cabinet last June, Mr Woodward and three staff travelled to Washington and New York for three nights at a cost of £21,300.

In October, a trip to Boston and New York for two nights, again with three staff, cost £29,125.

The next month Mr Woodward and two staff visited New York and Washington for five nights and spent £19,500.

Ulster Unionist Lord Laird of Artigarvan said using public money in this way was "completely alien".

The Northern Ireland Office said: "Mr Woodward meets a range of important Irish-American opinion-formers in America who have been supportive in the peace process."

Comments

Don't Miss
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?

Hazard warning

What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon