FOI - Budapest Pride [Jul 2025]

Requests: 

1. The total cost incurred by the Greater London Authority (GLA) for Deputy Mayor Tom Copley’s visit to Budapest Pride in 2025, including:

• Flights or other travel expenses
• Hotel accommodation
• Subsistence and expenses (e.g. food, transport)
• Any per diems or allowances provided

2. A breakdown of costs for any accompanying staff members or officials, if applicable.
3. Details of the purpose of the trip, including whether an official invitation was received, which organisations were met with, and any outcomes or reports produced as a result of the visit.

Responses:

I can confirm that the GLA holds information within the scope of your request. Please find our response below:

1. Costs

Total cost for flight and accommodation incurred by the GLA was £943.03 + £226.14

Any other travel expenses incurred will processed in the usual way, in accordance with the GLA’s expenses and benefits framework. If such costs are incurred by the GLA, this information will be published at: Tom Copley - Expenses | London City Hall  

If costs are covered by other parties, these costs will be declared in the usual way in accordance with the GLA’s gifts and hospitality policy  Our procedures | London City Hall

2. Breakdown of costs for any accompanying staff or officials:

No staff or officials accompanied the Deputy Mayor on this trip.

3. Purpose of the trip:

An official invitation was received from Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest to attend the 30th Budapest Pride March. The Deputy Mayor represented the Mayor of London at the Mayor of Budapest Pride event on 28 June to show solidarity with Hungary’s LGBTQ+ movement and to promote London’s credentials as a truly global, diverse, and inclusive city.

All city representatives, including London, joined the Mayor of Budapest on stage for his speech at the end of the parade. The Deputy Mayor is working alongside the Mayor of London with the LGBTQI+ community to support a bid to bring World Pride back to London in 2030. Attending the 30th Budapest Pride March was a show of solidarity and celebration with LGBTQI+ communities.

London and Budapest are better places because of the contribution of our LGBTQI+ communities and in London we are determined to show the world that this city is a beacon for LGBTQI+ rights.

During his visit, the Deputy Mayor met with city leaders including the Mayor of Budapest, Mayor of Amsterdam, Deputy Mayor of Utrecht, Alderman of the City of Brussels, as well as the President of Budapest Pride, high-level representatives of the European Parliament, MEPs, MPs, city councillors and members of the Diplomatic Corps.