In May 2018, Rashid apologised over a tweet which critics suggested was encouraging voters to vote more than once. Rashid said the well-known and jocular phrase "vote early, vote often, vote Labour", was sent by a member of staff.[10]
In October 2018, it was reported that Rashid had been on five overseas trips, worth almost £10,000 in total, since his election. The trips were to Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, China, Germany, Qatar and the West Bank and Israel and the cost met by NGOs, companies or overseas governments. Rashid responded that "These trips are largely educational in purpose. The opportunity to meet with individuals on the ground provides invaluable opportunities for learning and understanding. On occasions, the trips have also focused on enabling MPs to support British businesses abroad and on advancing bilateral relations. These are key aspects of a member of Parliament’s role, especially as the UK looks to redefine its position in the world post-Brexit."[11] Rashid sat on the Parliamentary International Trade Select Committee and the Committees on Arms Export Controls.[12]
