Emma Little-Pengelly defends Wimbledon trip after calls for £1k cost to be repaid
Emma Little-Pengelly said it was 'hugely positive' that she could represent Northern Ireland by attending the tournament.
Ms Little-Pengelly and her husband, Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly, were pictured at the event last month.
The pair were snapped in centre court's Royal Box alongside celebrities including US pop star Olivia Rodrigo, England football boss Thomas Tuchel and wrestler John Cena.
It later emerged the taxpayer footed the bill for Ms Little-Pengelly's attendance. Some £980 was spent on flights and accommodation.
On Friday Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson urged her to repay the money.
Mr Tennyson said it "beggars belief that the Deputy First Minister saw fit to take a jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayers' dime.'
His statement added: 'The only decent thing to do, at this point, would be for the Deputy First Minister to pay the money back.'
Ms Little-Pengelly addressed the controversy for the first time in a post on X on Friday night.
She said her role as Deputy First Minister involved 'leading from the front', saying she has 'worked tirelessly to champion Northern Ireland at every opportunity'.
'In this role we have the huge privilege too of being invited to attend Northern Ireland, Irish and UK events of national significance, including sporting events,' she said.
'I count it a huge honour to have been invited as DFM to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon at the invitation of the chair of the club.
'The organisers invite a mix of political, government, investors, business along with the world of sport and entertainment, and of course royalty, as part of the official aspect of the tournament in the Royal Box.
'It is hugely positive that Northern Ireland is invited to be represented at this significant UK British national sporting event, of huge global impact.
News Catch Up - Friday 8th August
'Wimbledon generates over £200million for the UK economy. I was hugely honoured to be asked to support the event and to represent officially as DFM.
'I will always be the biggest champion of this wonderful place of Northern Ireland.
'I will always do my best to promote us at every opportunity and it is the biggest honour of my life to ensure our voice is heard.
'As a unionist, I am determined too to play my part in supporting and promoting all that is fantastic about our UK.
'Some will criticise, some will try and attack. It will not diminish nor distract me from my drive and determination. It will not stop my positivity and championing Northern Ireland.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
24 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Family of kidnapped Israeli hostages to join march on Downing Street
On Sunday afternoon there will be a 'national march for the hostages' in central London organised by Stop the Hate UK and a number of Jewish organisations. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government meets a series of conditions towards ending the conflict in Gaza. Stop the Hate said that protesters will urge the Prime Minister to prioritise the release of 50 remaining Israeli hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive, before any recognition of a Palestinian state. Among those due to attend is Noga Guttman, the cousin of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was kidnapped. Hamas released a video last weekend which showed Mr David looking skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel. The ENTIRE Jewish community — alongside our allies across the UK — is uniting for a historic are coming together, regardless of our differences, for one purpose: To stand for the hostages. 🎗️ Join us as we march from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Downing Street, demanding… — We Believe in Israel (@WeBelieveIsrael) August 8, 2025 Marchers will include the relatives of Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival with his girlfriend Noa Argamani. Mr Or's cousin Ariel Felber, from London, said: 'Keir Starmer has failed the hostages and their families by not making it a condition that all the remaining hostages are brought home to their loved ones before he can even entertain talk of state recognition of Palestine. 'He urgently needs to correct this.' Steve Brisley from Bridgend, Wales, whose sister and nieces were murdered on October 7 and his brother-in-law Eli taken hostage, said: 'As British families of hostages and victims, devastated by the ongoing suffering of our loved ones, our emotional torture has been exacerbated by the suggestion that the UK may recognise a Palestinian state without securing the release of the hostages as an absolute precondition. 'This is not about politics. This is about basic humanity.' Also joining the protesters will be Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were murdered, and Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin Tsachi Idan saw his eldest daughter's murder before he himself was later confirmed dead. Demonstrators will gather in Holborn from 2pm before marching to Downing Street, where speeches will take place. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism, one of the groups attending, said: 'The situation for the hostages is absolutely desperate. 'People from right across the Jewish community, from every denomination are uniting with us to say that the UK must focus all of its diplomatic pressure on securing the return of the hostages.' It comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined his counterparts from Australia, Italy, Germany and New Zealand to condemn Israeli plans to take over Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that Israel would seek 'the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip', as well as 'Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip' and 'the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority'. In their joint statement, the foreign ministers said the plans 'risk violating international law' and 'any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law'. Sir Keir described Israel's plans as 'wrong' and called for 'a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution'. He said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, including addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. But he insisted the move was not a propaganda boost to Hamas, saying the 'terrorist organisation' could play 'no part in any future government'.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Family of kidnapped Israeli hostages to join march on Downing Street
On Sunday afternoon there will be a 'national march for the hostages' in central London organised by Stop the Hate UK and a number of Jewish organisations. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government meets a series of conditions towards ending the conflict in Gaza. Stop the Hate said that protesters will urge the Prime Minister to prioritise the release of 50 remaining Israeli hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive, before any recognition of a Palestinian state. Among those due to attend is Noga Guttman, the cousin of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was kidnapped. Hamas released a video last weekend which showed Mr David looking skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel. The ENTIRE Jewish community — alongside our allies across the UK — is uniting for a historic are coming together, regardless of our differences, for one purpose: To stand for the hostages. 🎗️ Join us as we march from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Downing Street, demanding… — We Believe in Israel (@WeBelieveIsrael) August 8, 2025 Marchers will include the relatives of Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival with his girlfriend Noa Argamani. Mr Or's cousin Ariel Felber, from London, said: 'Keir Starmer has failed the hostages and their families by not making it a condition that all the remaining hostages are brought home to their loved ones before he can even entertain talk of state recognition of Palestine. 'He urgently needs to correct this.' Steve Brisley from Bridgend, Wales, whose sister and nieces were murdered on October 7 and his brother-in-law Eli taken hostage, said: 'As British families of hostages and victims, devastated by the ongoing suffering of our loved ones, our emotional torture has been exacerbated by the suggestion that the UK may recognise a Palestinian state without securing the release of the hostages as an absolute precondition. 'This is not about politics. This is about basic humanity.' Also joining the protesters will be Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were murdered, and Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin Tsachi Idan saw his eldest daughter's murder before he himself was later confirmed dead. Demonstrators will gather in Holborn from 2pm before marching to Downing Street, where speeches will take place. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism, one of the groups attending, said: 'The situation for the hostages is absolutely desperate. 'People from right across the Jewish community, from every denomination are uniting with us to say that the UK must focus all of its diplomatic pressure on securing the return of the hostages.' It comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined his counterparts from Australia, Italy, Germany and New Zealand to condemn Israeli plans to take over Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that Israel would seek 'the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip', as well as 'Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip' and 'the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority'. In their joint statement, the foreign ministers said the plans 'risk violating international law' and 'any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law'. Sir Keir described Israel's plans as 'wrong' and called for 'a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution'. He said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, including addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. But he insisted the move was not a propaganda boost to Hamas, saying the 'terrorist organisation' could play 'no part in any future government'.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Family of kidnapped Israeli hostages to join march on Downing Street
On Sunday afternoon there will be a 'national march for the hostages' in central London organised by Stop the Hate UK and a number of Jewish organisations. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government meets a series of conditions towards ending the conflict in Gaza. Stop the Hate said that protesters will urge the Prime Minister to prioritise the release of 50 remaining Israeli hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive, before any recognition of a Palestinian state. Among those due to attend is Noga Guttman, the cousin of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was kidnapped. Hamas released a video last weekend which showed Mr David looking skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel. The ENTIRE Jewish community — alongside our allies across the UK — is uniting for a historic are coming together, regardless of our differences, for one purpose: To stand for the hostages. 🎗️ Join us as we march from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Downing Street, demanding… — We Believe in Israel (@WeBelieveIsrael) August 8, 2025 Marchers will include the relatives of Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival with his girlfriend Noa Argamani. Mr Or's cousin Ariel Felber, from London, said: 'Keir Starmer has failed the hostages and their families by not making it a condition that all the remaining hostages are brought home to their loved ones before he can even entertain talk of state recognition of Palestine. 'He urgently needs to correct this.' Steve Brisley from Bridgend, Wales, whose sister and nieces were murdered on October 7 and his brother-in-law Eli taken hostage, said: 'As British families of hostages and victims, devastated by the ongoing suffering of our loved ones, our emotional torture has been exacerbated by the suggestion that the UK may recognise a Palestinian state without securing the release of the hostages as an absolute precondition. 'This is not about politics. This is about basic humanity.' Also joining the protesters will be Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were murdered, and Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin Tsachi Idan saw his eldest daughter's murder before he himself was later confirmed dead. Demonstrators will gather in Holborn from 2pm before marching to Downing Street, where speeches will take place. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism, one of the groups attending, said: 'The situation for the hostages is absolutely desperate. 'People from right across the Jewish community, from every denomination are uniting with us to say that the UK must focus all of its diplomatic pressure on securing the return of the hostages.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy has condemned Israeli plans to take over Gaza City (PA) It comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined his counterparts from Australia, Italy, Germany and New Zealand to condemn Israeli plans to take over Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that Israel would seek 'the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip', as well as 'Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip' and 'the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority'. In their joint statement, the foreign ministers said the plans 'risk violating international law' and 'any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law'. Sir Keir described Israel's plans as 'wrong' and called for 'a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution'. He said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, including addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. But he insisted the move was not a propaganda boost to Hamas, saying the 'terrorist organisation' could play 'no part in any future government'.
