A new Westminster scandal including a Nationalist Member of Parliament might be unfolding as an investigation for “freebies” from questionable sources was just published by a Scottish newspaper. Dr Lisa Cameron, the Scottish National Party MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow, reportedly accepted more than £44,000 worth of free trips from a gambling company, tax havens, and even dictatorships.
The news report in the Sunday Mail details Dr. Cameron’s international travels over the past seven years, as well as various other freebies she received as a member of more than 60 All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). According to the newspaper, the MP’s membership in these APPGs was 68 as of July 2022. Adding another 43 groups she was previously on, the total number climbs to 111. As a result of the MP’s membership in the said APPGs, she took advantage of free flights, accommodation, meals, and VIP tickets for forums and other events, the publication claims.
Dr Lisa Cameron, who is a clinical psychologist and an NHS consultant, has been a Scottish National Party MP since 2015. Over the course of her political career, she has traveled to various destinations, including Hong Kong, The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, The United States, China, Japan, Switzerland, Kenya, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Taiwan, Zambia, and others, all funded by foreign administrations, the report says, going even further, dubbing her Westminster’s “Junket Queen”.
Overseas Trips Funded by Gambling Firms, Authoritarian Regimes
According to the newspaper, Dr Cameron accepted flights, dining, and accommodation in luxury hotels paid for by the governments of tax haven countries such as San Marino and Switzerland. She traveled to Ayr in Southwest Scotland for the Ayr Gold Cup in September 2018. The ticket and associated hospitality at a total of £325 were paid by London-based online gambling company William Hill.
Other trips were funded by even more controversial donors associated with authoritarian regimes and human rights violations. In February, the MP accepted £3865 worth of flights, hotel stays and dining from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the trip was to discuss the oil-rich country’s preparations for World Cup, in addition to “workers’ rights and investments”.
The previous month, Dr Cameron traveled to the UAE and met ministers of the UAE, Israel, and Bahrain to “strengthen peace in the Middle East”. The associated expenses totaling £3,354 were covered by the UK Abraham Accords Group and the Middle East Forum.
Three years ago, she also visited Beijing and Jinan from July to August, taking part in the 2019 Young Leaders Roundtable. At this forum, the MP discussed climate change issues and the cost of this work trip, or £2,093 was paid by The Great Britain China Centre, Prudential Plc and China International Capital Corporation, and the All-China Youth Federation.
The most expensive trip, according to the newspaper, however, took place in January 2017 when Dr Cameron visited Hong Kong to strengthen the bilateral relationship and business development between the UK and Hong Kong. The flights and associated hospitality were covered by the Hong Kong Government. Although the country is often considered independent, it is a special administrative region of China and de facto controlled by the Chinese government.
- Author
Daniel Williams
