£100k Bank summer do WE paid for

BANK of England bosses spent almost £100,000 of taxpayers’ money on a party two weeks after the Brexit vote in June.

Governor Mark Carney and 2,500 staff, policymakers and their families attended its summer sports day at a cost of £99,035 to the public purse.

The Bank insisted it had “carefully budgeted” for the Governors’ Day jolly on July 10 at its sports ground in south-west London.

But yesterday the TaxPayers’ Alliance branded the revelations a “huge slap in the face to all who struggle under Bank policies”.

Chief executive John O’Connell said: “Not only have savers had very little to celebrate over the past eight years because of rock-bottom interest rates but many will rightly be angry that staff are then spending huge sums of money on lavish parties.

“It would be right to consider these sensitivities planning any future function.”

The Bank said the day is a “long-held tradition that is open to all employees – including members of the Monetary Policy Committee – and their families, with the aim of recognising their hard work and dedication.

“The event is important and the Bank strongly believes that this carefully budgeted event is worthwhile.”

The Bank spent similar amounts on two previous events. However, Canadian Mr Carney has ditched a match of a cricket for a more inclusive game of rounders, including hiring bouncy castles.