Prime Minister Defends Acceptance of Free Arsenal Tickets, Citing High Security Costs for Taxpayers

The prime minister stated accepting complimentary tickets to Arsenal games saves taxpayers a significant amount of money. This statement came in response to inquiries about his ties with Arsenal Football Club, following a Sky News' Westminster Accounts project report that showed he had accepted far more gifts and hospitality than any other MP.

Political correspondent @FaithLRidler

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 7:

Sir Keir Starmer has asserted that attending Arsenal games as a spectator would be "extremely expensive for taxpayers," following revelations that he received complimentary tickets valued at thousands of pounds.

The prime minister has come under fire following a revelation by Sky News' Westminster Accounts project, which showed that he has accepted gifts and hospitality worth £107,145 since December 2019. This amount is over double that received by any other Member of Parliament.

Sir Keir reported receiving £12,588 in gifts from the Premier League, which comprised four Taylor Swift concert tickets valued at £4,000 during the election campaign, a pair of tickets to the Euros finals priced at £1,628, and a variety of tickets to multiple Arsenal games totaling more than £6,000.

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Authorities are expressing concern that the prime minister's acceptance of invitations to attend football games may pose a potential conflict of interest, especially in light of proposed reforms to the sport's governing body, reforms that are not well-received by numerous clubs.

When questioned about his connection to Arsenal Football Club, Sir Keir revealed that he has been a season ticket holder and has regularly attended games for many years.

Now that he is Prime Minister, Sir Keir informed ITV London that security guidelines prevent him from visiting the stands.

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The prime minister mentioned that doing so would result in "a huge expense to the taxpayer" for "extra security."

Discover more: Navigating Westminster Accounts: A Guide to Searching for Your MP in the Database

He mentioned: "I've received ticket offers for other sections of the venue that are considered safer."

"I've decided against spending more taxpayer funds on extra security measures."

When questioned about his frequent acceptance of expensive hospitality tickets, Sir Keir expressed his belief that "most people" would find his reasoning for doing so to be "reasonable."

On the recent episode of Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, ex-Labour MP Harriet Harman advised Sir Keir to cease attempting to rationalize the acceptance of complimentary gifts, stating that it only exacerbates the situation.

The baroness stated that the dispute was "inappropriate" for the prime minister and advised him to alter his strategy instead of persisting with it.

She explained on the podcast, "You have two choices: defend your actions or admit it was likely a mistake. If I could do it over, I wouldn't take the same step, so instead I plan to organize an auction for charity or similar activity."

"It may not be a serious crime, but insisting on defending it only exacerbates the situation."

Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, leveled accusations of cronyism against Sir Keir.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Politics Hub, he said, "We are facing a scenario where the trust in the newly elected prime minister is dwindling due to his campaign promises, but it appears he is the greatest crony himself."

Sir Keir received the majority of his gifts and hospitality, totaling £86,708 out of £107,145, during the previous parliamentary session. However, £20,437 was recorded in the current session for accommodation expenses that span both terms.

Labour peer Waheed Alli tops the list as the most generous provider of gifts and hospitality, contributing an amount valued at £39,122.

In a discussion with local media on Thursday, Sir Keir emphasized his total command of the situation amidst a dispute in the government concerning the salary of his chief advisor.

When questioned about why his chief of staff, Sue Gray, receives a higher salary than he does, the prime minister responded to BBC South East, stating, "I'm not going to delve into conversations regarding the specific earnings of my team members. I'm sure you wouldn't anticipate that from me."

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