A JUNIOR Labour minister billed the taxpayer £34,000 for a trip to the US during the World Cup.
Jake Richards, the MP for Rother Valley and a Justice Minister in the UK Government, spent £24,300 on flights, £3300 on accommodation, £3800 on ground transport, and £2700 on food and hospitality, according to figures first reported by the Guido Fawkes blog.
Richards visited Missouri and Chicago during his trip, which lasted from July 12 until July 16.
England played Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on July 15. The MP did not attend the match in person, but shared an image of himself watching it on social media.
In a post on LinkedIn, he said the purpose of the visit had been to learn from a “globally recognised system” that “turns children away from crime and creates safer communities”.
“I met with policymakers, practitioners, business leaders and community organisations in a unique chance to examine how different parts of the justice system can work together to support rehabilitation, opportunity and long-term positive change,” he wrote.
Guido Fawkes reported that Richards had travelled with his private secretary, the Ministry of Justice’s head of youth sentencing, a photographer, and an “International Engagement Adviser”.
The blog further said that the UK Government had refused to release the itinerary of the trip.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This trip took place to support the once-in-a-generation reforms we are making to our youth justice system.
“In Missouri, the minister saw how early intervention to tackle the root causes of youth crime can create safer communities and fewer victims.”
