Richard Benyon defends Reading West MP Alok Sharma’s ‘red list’ country visits

Former Newbury MP Richard Benyon has condemned recent criticism of Alok Sharma, calling it ‘silly season stories’.

Mr Sharma, president of the Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), has been dubbed a hypocrite after flying to 30 countries in the past seven months.

The most recent countries the Reading West MP visited were Bolivia and Brazil.

He has also has avoided the necessary isolation periods after his travels, relying on quarantine exemption rules, exclusive to ministers.

Lord Benyon spoke out on Twitter to defend Mr Sharma against public and political criticism.

He said: “They know that if in government they would be demanding that the COP president was using every diplomatic tool to make COP a success.

“Lives depend on it.”

Other MPs have also criticised Mr Sharma's actions, with Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney, calling it ‘usual’ for the Government.

She said: "It’s one rule for them and another for everybody else.

“People are sick of the Government giving themselves get-out-of-jail free passes while the rest of us stick to the rules.”

Mr Sharma has also conducted many virtual meetings.

Lord Benyon said: “I doubt anyone has spent more time on virtual meetings than @AlokSharma_RDG but sometimes in diplomacy you have to eyeball people.”

Mr Sharma was appointed as full-time president of COP26 in January 2021.

Lord Benyon was the Conservative MP for Newbury from 2005 to 2019, when he decided to stand down.

He served as minister for the natural environment, water and rural affairs in David Cameron's Government until 2013.

Lord Benyon was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state (minister for rural affairs and biosecurity) in May.