Badenoch's new shadow transport secretary put Remembrance wreaths on expenses

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s new shadow transport secretary billed the taxpayer for Remembrance Sunday wreaths.

Gareth Bacon, whose wife works for Badenoch, was appointed to the brief this week as the party looks to bounce back from its election drubbing. But we can reveal how, rather than dipping into his own pocket, Mr Bacon claimed £55 on expenses for two wreaths.

While there is no suggestion of rule-breaking, the frontbencher – pictured laying a wreath at a war memorial last year – has previously showcased his virtue on the issue of expenses. We unearthed the Orpington MP’s claim, in October last year, from Commons expenses watchdog Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) records. The politician’s wife, Tory councillor Cheryl Bacon, is employed by Badenoch who saw off rival Robert Jenrick to become the party’s new leader earlier this month.

Mr Bacon was pictured laying a wreath at a war memorial during a ceremony last November. He wrote on : “Remembrance weekend - A well attended and moving wreath laying ceremony at Orpington War Memorial this morning. Orpington did them proud."

In October 2023, Mr Bacon claimed “2 x wreaths from RBL for Remembrance Sunday” for £55, records show. But in November 2022, he was vocal on social media arguing MPs should not use taxpayer funds for parties. Posting a newspaper front page reporting on the issue, he wrote on Facebook: “No MP asked for this, and no MP should use it. It's a ridiculous decision taken by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I will not be hosting any parties paid for by taxpayers.”

An IPSA spokesperson said: “MPs are given reasonable discretion to use funding from their office costs budget to support their parliamentary work. Therefore if an MP chooses to lay a wreath in their capacity as a constituency representative, the cost of the wreath could be reimbursed as part of their office costs. If the wreath-laying is outside of parliamentary duties however it would not be an allowable business cost.” Mr Bacon and the were contacted for comment.