Come clean Willie - how many more Tory MPs have their snout in BA trough?

18 March 2010

Unite has demanded that BA comes clean about how many Tory MPs they have "bought" after it was revealed today (Wednesday) that the Tory MP who viciously attacked BA cabin crew in the Commons today may have had up to £15,000 in free flights from the airline in recent years.

While cabin crew are fighting to defend their jobs from BA's service slashing, Mark Pritchard, Tory MP for The Wrekin, laid into them on the floor of the House. But, in a clear breach of Parliamentary protocol he did not once declare his expensive gifts from BA to the Commons as he spoke.

In recent years Mark Pritchard has regularly has enjoyed flight upgrades on his frequent Washington trips, up from Economy plus to Business class. On one occasion BA's generosity extended to include Mr Pritchard's wife, who was also granted an upgrade to business class. BA business class flights to Washington cost over £2000 single. Unite estimates then, that in the past few years Mr Pritchard has benefitted to the tune of £15,000 in flights - more than a cabin crew member at Gatwick earns in a year.

Tony Woodley, Unite joint general secretary, said:

"This is extraordinary hypocrisy from the Tories - their union-baiting charge is being led by someone with his snout in BA's trough.

"This Tory was happy enough to sip champagne in business class and be cared for by the BA cabin crew - but now he launches this disgraceful attack on them today.

"Willie Walsh should come clean on how many MPs he's bought - and MPs and the Speaker of the House of Commons should demand to know why Mark Pritchard kept his BA kick-backs secret."

The full record of Mark Pritchard's BA freebies can be seen at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11946 <http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11946>

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