MPs receive free first-class passes from rail company...then praise firm in Commons without declaring an interest

'Genuine error': Halifax MP Linda Riordan

MPs barred from claiming for first-class train tickets are instead being given first-class passes by a rail operator – and some have ­publicly praised the firm without declaring the gift.

At least 20 MPs with Northern ­constituencies, including Foreign ­Secretary William Hague, have accepted free passes for Grand ­Central’s Yorkshire to London service.

A first-class day return costs up to £198 and the MPs themselves have estimated the passes are worth a total of about £65,000.

Left-winger Linda Riordan and fellow Labour MP Barry Sheerman have ­supported Grand Central in Parliament, without declaring their passes.



New guidelines, introduced after the expenses scandal, have seen MPs face tight restrictions on claims, effectively ruling out first-class travel between their constituencies and Westminster.



Those enjoying the largesse of Grand Central say it saves taxpayers money because they no longer need to claim even for standard tickets.



But critics question the agenda of the rail firm and say MPs in first class are isolated from the concerns of ­ordinary passengers.



At least 18 MPs have declared their pass in the register of members’ ­interests, with estimates of its worth between £1,000 and £8,000.

But one who hasn’t is Mrs Riordan, a vocal supporter of Grand Central inside and outside Parliament.



The MP for Halifax – a member of the Socialist Campaign Group – was quoted in May lauding the company for reviving direct services between London and several neglected Yorkshire stations, including Halifax.

In June she tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament congratulating Grand Central for its new West Riding ­service, ­lavishing praise on the firm’s ‘vision, dedication and patience’.



A spokesman for the MP said: ‘She has made a genuine error by failing to register her free pass. In hindsight it should have been done when she first received it in May but the mistake is now being rectified.’

Another not to register is Mr Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and one of the signatories backing the EDM.



He said he had used his pass on only a ­couple of occasions and had not yet registered it because he objected to rules requiring him to estimate its worth to him in a year’s time.



The MP said he would declare only journeys he had actually taken.



Last night there was still no mention of the pass in his list of interests.

Grand Central said it offered free passes to a range of groups, including charities and media organisations.

A spokesman said the passes were also available to staff in MPs’ constituency offices, adding: ‘This is not about buying influence. It is about saving taxpayer money and ­making sure MPs understand concerns of passengers.’

But passenger group Rail-future said questions should be raised about the agendas of firms handing out passes.



A spokesman said: ‘They might be trying to ­influence MPs for any number of reasons.’

He added: ‘MPs in first class are hardly going to be able to listen to views of ­passengers in standard class.’

