David Cameron Treats His Personal Trainer (Among Others) To A Taxpayer-Funded Lunch At Chequers

PM Treats His Personal Trainer (Among Others) To A Taxpayer-Funded Lunch
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File photo dated 2/5/2014 of David Cameron who has called on floating voters to shun the "doom-mongers" and back his "optimistic" vision for the country in this month's European elections.
Joe Giddens/PA Wire

David Cameron's personal trainer was among guests invited to a taxpayer-funded lunch for top figures from the world of sport at Chequers, information released by Downing Street showed.

Fitness guru to the stars Matt Roberts joined former England rugby and cricket captains, Olympic champions, top administrators and TV presenters at a lunch to discuss sports policy.

His name appeared on a list of people who "received official hospitality" at the PM's grace-and-favour country retreat in the final quarter of last year.

Others who attended the single declared event during the period, with partners, included BBC sports host Clare Balding, ex-England rugby players Will Carling and Bill Beaumont, former international cricketers Darren Gough and Mike Gatting and Olympic champion hurdler Sally Gunnell.

London Olympics rowing champion Katherine Grainger was there along with Debbie Jevans, chief executive of next year's Rugby World Cup in England, ex FA chairman David Bernstein, former Football League chairman David Sheepshanks and Sports Minister Helen Grant.

Downing Street has only recently bowed to pressure to release such guest lists but Labour has demanded they be extended to include those paid for out of the PM's own pocket or by the Tory party.

Downing Street said Mr Roberts would have brought expert knowledge to the discussions.

The award of an MBE in the New Year's honours list to the PM's hairdresser Lino Carbosiero led some critics to accuse the PM of cronyism.

The guest list was one of a number of releases of official information about ministerial meetings, gifts, and other details put out the day after local and European elections.