Emma Little-Pengelly defends Wimbledon trip as chance to promote NI

Emma Little-Pengelly, the Deputy First Minister, has defended her attendance at Wimbledon despite facing criticism for the spending involved in the trip. Little-Pengelly, along with Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly, attended the tennis tournament with almost £1,000 spent on flights and accommodation. Some Stormont parties, including Alliance, have called for Little-Pengelly to repay the money spent on the trip.

In response to the criticism, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) defended Little-Pengelly, stating that she was invited to Wimbledon in her capacity as deputy first minister. Little-Pengelly finally addressed the controversy in a post on social media, emphasizing that she considers it an honor to represent Northern Ireland at events of national significance. She expressed her commitment to promoting Northern Ireland on various platforms, despite facing backlash for her attendance at Wimbledon.

Alliance’s deputy leader demanded that Little-Pengelly repay the £980 of public funding allocated to the Wimbledon trip, describing it as a luxury at the taxpayers’ expense. Other parties, such as the SDLP and TUV, also criticized the spending on the trip, questioning the justification for public funds being used in this manner. Little-Pengelly’s husband, who accompanied her on the trip, was on annual leave at the time, and the Education Authority confirmed that no expenditure was incurred by them during the event.

The controversy surrounding the Wimbledon trip arose when photos surfaced showing Little-Pengelly and her husband in the Royal Box alongside celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and John Cena. Despite the public scrutiny, the Executive Office clarified that details of gifts and hospitality received by ministers are documented and adhered to. Although both the Deputy First Minister and First Minister Michelle O’Neill were invited to Wimbledon, O’Neill opted not to attend the event

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