Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has explained how he came to declare skiing tuition and a lift pass on a trip to the up-market Swiss resort of Davos.

National whistleblowing website Guido Fawkes revealed this week that Mr Seely, alongside four colleagues, went on the annual Parliamentary skiing trip. 

While his colleagues took wives and families along and declared up to £1,700 of ski benefits, plus dinners and other functions, Mr Seely declared just the £622 for passes and instruction, paid for by the Swiss government.

He told the County Press the trip was during the Christmas parliamentary recess from January 3 to 8 and that he paid for his own air fares, travel, hotels and food.

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Mr Seely said: “I was invited on a skiing trip organised by British and Swiss Parliamentarians during the Christmas recess, as part of a long-standing tradition between the two Parliaments going back some 70 years. 

"As part of that trip, I received ski instruction and a ski pass from the Swiss Parliament, which were declared in accordance with the rules.

"All else I paid for, air fares, travel, hotels, food, etc."

Davos is known for hosting the World Economic Forum but is also a top ski resort and hosts major ice hockey tournaments.