Diverted journeys

MPs and staff members may be funded for a ‘diverted journey’ if they travel for parliamentary purposes but make a stop for non-parliamentary reasons, e.g. between Westminster and the constituency or between the constituency office and a parliamentary event elsewhere in the UK.

To meet IPSA's regulatory principles of parliamentary purpose and integrity, the main reason for the journey must be parliamentary. Although diverted journeys are not timebound, as a rule of thumb, a diversion from a parliamentary journey is unlikely to span more than a day.

It should be noted that this is a ‘diversion’ from an eligible journey and not one that is significantly different in terms of direction or location or one that would not be ordinarily funded.

The maximum amount that will be funded by IPSA is the standard open fare for a direct trip between Westminster and the MP’s constituency.

Evidence required for funding requests

You must retain and submit with funding requests the required evidence such as invoices or receipts to show the journey, dates and costs.

When seeking funding for diverted journeys, you must include a note explaining the reason for the trip.

Guidance updated on April 2026.

IPSA does not fund journeys of a personal or non-parliamentary nature.

This means that where an MP or staff members travels to one location for a personal reason, and then after some time travels again for a work purpose (e.g. to Westminster or the constituency office), this is not considered a ‘diverted journey’ because they set off explicitly for a personal reason.

Guidance updated on April 2026.

To meet our regulatory principles of parliamentary purpose and integrity, the main reason for the journey must have a parliamentary purpose and the journey should not provide any personal advantage.

Value for money must be considered. The journey and ticket type must be the best value for money available.

An MP travels from London to their constituency in Glasgow. On the way, they stop in Edinburgh for a personal appointment and then continue to Glasgow on the same day.

This is a diverted journey and the amount that can be funded is limited to the standard fare between London and Glasgow.

A staff member based in the constituency travels from Birmingham to Manchester on Saturday for a personal training course, staying in Manchester for the weekend.

On Monday, they travel directly from Manchester to London to meet the MP without returning to the constituency.

This is not a diverted journey. The trip from Birmingham to Manchester was for personal reasons and cannot be funded under the Funding Scheme.

However, the journey from Manchester to London can be claimed under ‘London-constituency travel’ but is limited to the standard fare between Birmingham and London.

Is the main and underlying reason for this journey only for parliamentary purposes?

Could this be seen as a personal journey with a parliamentary purpose ‘bolted on’ to allow it to be funded?

Are the journey route and type of travel the best value for money?

Could this travel be considered a commute?

Be aware of HMRC guidance on whether the payment or reimbursement of these costs could be subject to tax.

If you are unsure how activities or spending aligns with IPSA's regulatory principles, contact your account manager or payroll officer.