The Prime Minister was questioned about his ties to Arsenal Football Club following a report by Sky News’ Westminster Accounts project, which disclosed that he had accepted more gifts and hospitality than any other MP—two-and-a-half times more than the second-highest recipient. This has sparked curiosity about the nature of his connection with the football club and the reasons behind the substantial amount of hospitality he has received in comparison to other Members of Parliament.
Sir Keir Starmer has defended accepting thousands of pounds worth of free football tickets, insisting it would “cost the taxpayer a fortune” if he were to watch Arsenal from the stands. This comes after Sky News’ Westminster Accounts project revealed that he had received significantly more gifts and hospitality than any other MP, totaling £107,145 since December 2019.
Among the declared gifts were £12,588 worth of hospitality from the Premier League, which included four Taylor Swift tickets during the election campaign valued at £4,000, two Euros finals tickets worth £1,628, and various Arsenal match tickets exceeding £6,000.
Government officials have expressed concerns that Starmer’s acceptance of such hospitality, particularly related to football, could create a conflict of interest, especially with ongoing discussions about reforming the sport’s regulator, a move opposed by several clubs.
In response, Sir Keir explained that he has been a long-time season ticket holder at Arsenal. However, since becoming prime minister, security concerns prevent him from sitting in the regular stands. He told ITV London that the “security advice is that I can’t go to the stands,” and added that attending matches in his usual seat would lead to increased taxpayer costs for additional security.
Instead, he has accepted tickets for more secure seating areas to avoid extra security expenses. “I think most people watching this would say, well, fair to think that,” Starmer said, defending his decision.
When asked if he was concerned about the perception of accepting so many free tickets, Starmer maintained that his reasoning was “fair” and emphasized that using taxpayer money for security would not be justified. “I’ve taken up the offer to sit elsewhere in the stands so I can still see Arsenal play,” he explained.
The report revealed that most of Starmer’s gifts and hospitality, amounting to £86,708, were accepted in the last parliament. However, £20,437 was declared in the current parliament, largely related to accommodation across both periods. Labour peer Waheed Alli was identified as the biggest donor, providing gifts and hospitality worth £39,122, including accommodation, “work clothing” worth £16,200, and multiple pairs of glasses valued at £2,485.
Source: Sky
