A TORY MP has come under fire for accepting a free game shooting weekend at a grand stately home.
Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell was treated to a pheasant shoot at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, Derbyshire, worth £850.
December’s visit, with five other Tory MPs, came to light with publication of the Parliamentary Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
MPs must disclose any gifts, benefits or free hospitality they receive as part of their role.
The Labour Party seized on Mr Reevell’s “blood sports” weekend to show how out-of-touch the Tories were.
Labour also attacked Mr Reevell’s second job as a barrister, accusing him of being a “part-time MP.”
During 2012 Mr Reevell was said to have earned £87,439.42 including VAT for his legal work, well above his £66,000 salary as an MP.
Labour said the dinner, bed and breakfast, a morning’s shooting and lunch for the six MPs came to more than £5,000.
It was paid for by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.
During last year Mr Reevell declared 96 separate payments for legal work, much of which is from the publicly-funded Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Reevell came under attack from Dewsbury West Labour councillor Karen Rowling who said: “Simon Reevell is a part-time MP who is neglecting his constituents to pursue his own legal career.
“When he’s not in court he’s off on shooting trips with his Tory chums.”
Mr Reevell said he had always made it clear he would continue with some “spare time” legal work which did not interfere with his duties as an MP, which always came first.
He said there was “no substance” to Clr Rowling’s claims that he was neglecting his constituents.
“People should be left to make their own mind up.”
He added: “If you ask me what I do I say I am a Member of Parliament.
