https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwyq29ydjvo
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has defended her decision to accept an invitation to Wimbledon, saying she will always seek to promote and champion Northern Ireland.
Almost £1,000 was spent on flights and accommodation when Little-Pengelly and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Richard Pengelly attended the tennis tournament.
She has faced criticism for the spending from some Stormont parties, with Alliance's deputy leader saying she should pay the money back.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) defended its party member on Thursday but Little-Pengelly had not directly addressed the criticism until a post on social media site X late on Friday night.
In the post, she said in her role she has the "huge privilege" of being invited to attend events of national significance, and that she considered it a "huge honour" to be asked to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon as deputy first minister.
"The organisers invite a mix of political, government, investors, business along with the world of sport and entertainment, and of course royalty, as part of the official aspect of the tournament in the Royal Box," she wrote.
"It is hugely positive that Northern Ireland is invited to be represented at this significant UK British national sporting event, of huge global impact.
"I will always be the biggest champion of this wonderful place of Northern Ireland. I will always do my best to promote us at every opportunity and it is the biggest honour of my life to ensure our voice is heard."
She said that while "some will criticise, some will try and attack", it will not "stop my positivity and championing" of Northern Ireland.
Earlier on Friday, Alliance's deputy leader Eoin Tennyson told the Irish News, external that Little-Pengelly should pay back the £980 of public funding that went towards the trip.
He described it as a "jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayers' dime".
"It's easy to see why the DUP is clearly unable to explain or justify why the public should be picking up the nearly £1,000 tab.
"The only decent thing to do, at this point, would be for the deputy first minister to pay the money back."
His criticism echoed those of other parties earlier this week, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP's) Matthew O'Toole who said the spending "beggars belief" and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston who questioned the "justification for the public paying the bill".
What's the background to the Wimbledon trip row?
The criticism began when the deputy first minister and her husband Mr Pengelly were pictured at centre court's Royal Box alongside celebrities including American pop star Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena and former England football manager Roy Hodgson.
A Freedom of Information request by the Irish News, external revealed that more than £980 was spent on the trip.
In the face of the criticism, the DUP said on Thursday the invitation was issued "in her capacity as deputy first minister and will be registered in the normal way".
Both the deputy first minister and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were invited to Wimbledon, but O'Neill did not take up the invitation.
The Executive Office (TEO) said O'Neill did attend the All-Ireland Football semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry later in July but there were "no costs" associated with that trip.
On the deputy first minister's trip to Wimbledon, the Executive Office said details of gifts and hospitality received by ministers are recorded on the 'Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality Received'.
It previously said that the deputy first minister "flew economy" and that while she was accompanied by her husband, there was "no additional expenditure" incurred by the TEO on his behalf.
It also said the travel and accommodation costs were "in line with NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service) police".
The Education Authority said "no spend was incurred" by it and the trip was "made in a personal capacity" while Mr Pengelly was on annual leave.
by WasabiMadman
23 comments
Democratic Unionist? Party!
She really is skating through life for free.
Unelected, elevated to Deputy First Minister, taxpayer paid social events.
FML
Who was representing NI was on the tennis, pitch/crese/course etc?
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
Ian Og has taught her how til do the kickback thing
Cheap cunt. Like she needed us to pay for that on her salary. Fucking leech.
Can’t believe I’m actually defending the DUP here, but this seems an absolute non-story.
For better or for worse, she has somehow landed into the joint-head of government role in NI. Attending sports events and shit like that is part of the job. And its not like £1k is a serious amount of money tbf, or that it is a major splurge for a trip to London, when the going rate of a hotel room is probably £200 a night.
She deserves as many paid trips as she got votes.
Unless she’s playing the tennis, not quite sure what she’s representing
Prepared to Fleece. Ready to Score.
Does she have a point?
Politics is part peacockery, part paperwork – you can’t expect the world to notice you if you never leave the committee room.
Wimbledon is as much about diplomacy and schmoozing as it is about forehands and Federer’s ghost.
To decline the invitation might have been interpreted as a snub – and Northern Ireland’s voice, however faintly, needs to be heard in those hallowed, grass-scented corridors.
The critics, of course are right to scrutinize and cross-examine use of public funds – and there’s nothing that unites people drawn from across the political spectrum like the opportunity to howl “waste of public funds!” at a well-dressed politician.
But there’s a touch of theatre to the outrage — one suspects that had the trip been to a damp conference in Dungannon, no-one would care, precisely because no-one would notice?
Being generous – perhaps it was expensive but perhaps it was also effective?
The price of politics is often paid in the coin of perception, and in the sunlit Royal Box, perception was the whole game – Whether the taxpayers got value for money depends entirely on whether they think representation looks better in a hi-vis vest or a tailored jacket.
> revealed that more than £980 was spent or the trip.
Fuck me is that really how much money this is about?
The DUP are scum and I don’t see the value in Little-Pengelly attending the event but that’s literally negligible. The daily security bill for if the DFM pops down to the local shop probably costs more.
Next stop, taking over from Wee Ian as minister for Sri Lanka
Can’t stand the Duppers but fuck some people like to complain all the time
Loads of politicians go to these events, I don’t understand the issue.
On the face of it it seems like a jolly, but if she was there representing NI, and had the chance to socialise with people who could bring business and events into the country it should be a good thing. Did she speak to Oliva Rodrigo about having a concert in Belfast? Did she discuss the influence John Cena can exert on WWE to bring a PLE to Belfast after the success of the last house show? Did she do any of this, or did she just get drunk?
I thought she was a village in The Cotswolds.
Represent them doing what? Watching tennis?
Who gives a fuck if people from here can watch tennis in Wimbledon. It represents fuck all useful.
Lol
I am sure John Cena and Roy Hodgson were truly interested to hear of the plight of NI Unionists and the Iniquitous Sea Border.
I would bet they were straight on the phone to fight the good fight on behalf of the persecuted unionists of NI.
The only way you’d care about this is out of political point scoring, and really there is fuck all to be said about such a small price of expenditure.
Haha chance of a nice freebie rubbing shoulders with so called elite.
Hate the DUP, fuck them and the horse they came in on but half the people moaning about this probably work for companies that expense dinners that cost more than this trip…or are partial to a wee “cash price” deal or two.
Complete non story.
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