🚀 **Jet-Setting Welsh MP Nick Thomas-Symonds Spends £7k on Travels in a Year!** 🚀
Hold on to your passports, folks! Welsh MP for Torfaen, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has certainly made the most of his new role as Minister for EU Relations. In just a year, he’s visited 11 countries, chalking up a travel bill of at least £7,000!
🌍 **Where in the World Has He Been?**
After Labour’s triumph in the July 2024 general election, Thomas-Symonds was in full swing! He was off to Belgium on a Eurostar just a day post his cabinet appointment to dive into EU-UK relations. From there, he jetted off with PM Keir Starmer to a NATO summit in Washington D.C., snapping pics of his travels along the way.
✈️ **Traveling with Purpose**
His trips weren’t just sightseeing! Thomas-Symonds’ frequent hops to Brussels highlight the UK’s focus on strengthening EU ties. With seven trips to the Belgian capital already, this MP sure knows how to keep a Eurostar ticket handy. One notable journey was in October 2024 when he joined the PM for critical “UK/EU Reset” talks.
👔 **Eurostar and Diplomacy**
Eurostar seems to be his go-to for Brussels trips, though he’s not just sticking to Belgium. He’s also touched down in places like Berlin, Prague and Stockholm. While in Brussels, he even met Maroš Šefčovič, the man dubbed “Mr Fixit” of Brexit negotiations, with whom he seems to have struck a solid rapport.
💼 **No Free Rides for Family**
Even though he’s flying across continents, records show he’s flying solo, with no public money used for family travel perks.
🔗 **Ongoing EU Relations**
His travels are essential for ongoing negotiations—from smoothing trade deals to tackling issues like illegal migration. All this globe-trotting isn’t just about raking up air miles; it’s about laying the groundwork for stronger UK-EU collaborations.
So, what’s your take on all these travels? Essential diplomacy or a bit too much jet-setting? Let us know your thoughts below! 🌐✈️