Starmer tells Travelodge boss to engage with MPs over sexual assault case
A guest at a Travelodge in Maidenhead was sexually assaulted by a man who had been given a key card to her room
Last updated 26th Mar 2026
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has written to Travelodge’s chief executive urging her to “seriously engage” with the Government after she cancelled a meeting with MPs.
Sir Keir said he was “very concerned” some MPs did not hear from Jo Boydell directly, adding it is “incredibly important” lessons are learned after an “utterly appalling” sexual assault at one of the chain’s hotels.
A guest at a Travelodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire, was sexually assaulted by a man who had been given a key card to her room.
Kyran Smith was jailed in February for seven-and-a-half years following the attack in December 2022.
In his letter to Ms Boydell, the Prime Minister said: “I welcome your recent meeting with several Members of Parliament, including the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, and the minister for victims and tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).
“I was, however, very concerned that some MPs were not able to hear from you directly.
“I urge you to seriously engage with MPs and my Government to address the concerns that remain around best practice interventions for prevention, the training being made available and the pace of Travelodge’s response.”
Referring to the assault, he added: “It is incredibly important that lessons are learned and action is taken to better protect guests.”
Ms Boydell apologised to the victim in a statement earlier in March, adding the company had made changes to its door key policy.
Smith, from Staines, Surrey, had lied to reception staff, telling them he was the victim’s boyfriend.
He had been at the same party as the woman before they and others retired to their rooms.
The woman said staff told her Smith had passed their security checks by providing her name.
The Government published its VAWG strategy in December, with the aim of halving this type of violence in a decade.
In the letter, the Prime Minister said: “This is a personal mission for me: no woman or girl should feel unsafe in this country, or fear for their life.
“VAWG is a national emergency and, as such, demands that all of us take action to tackle it.”
It is understood Travelodge has launched an independent investigation into its room security policies.
While Sir Keir welcomed the move in the letter, he said: “This review should proceed at pace, with a confirmed timeline and a commitment to deliver the outcomes, so early findings can be acted upon immediately.”