Prime Minister Keir Starmer Defends Acceptance of Free Arsenal Tickets, Cites High Security Costs to Taxpayers

The Prime Minister stated that accepting complimentary tickets to Arsenal games saves taxpayers a significant amount of money. This came in response to questions about his ties to Arsenal Football Club following a report by Sky News' Westminster Accounts project, which showed he received more than double the gifts and hospitality compared to any other MP.

Political correspondent @FaithLRidler

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 7:

Sir Keir Starmer has argued that it would be "extremely expensive for the taxpayer" if he were to pay for Arsenal tickets himself, following revelations that he had received several thousand pounds in complimentary football tickets.

The prime minister has come under fire following a report by Sky News' Westminster Accounts project, which showed that he has accepted gifts and hospitality worth £107,145 since December 2019, more than double the amount received by any other MP.

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 period, a pair of Euro finals tickets priced at £1,628, and a series of tickets to various Arsenal games totaling more than £6,000.

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Authorities are concerned that the prime minister's acceptance of invitations to attend football games may pose a conflict of interest, especially considering the proposed changes to the sport's regulatory body, changes that are unpopular with 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 the 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 incur significant expenses for the taxpayer due to the need for heightened security.

Discover more: Navigating the Westminster Accounts: A Guide to Investigating the Database on Your OwnWestminster Accounts: Find Information on Your MP

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

"We can avoid spending taxpayers' funds on extra security measures. That's the reason behind my decision."

When questioned about his concerns regarding the perception of accepting numerous expensive hospitality tickets, Sir Keir responded that he believes "most people" would find his justification for doing so to be "reasonable."

On a recent episode of Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, ex-Labour MP Harriet Harman encouraged Sir Keir to cease his attempts to defend accepting complimentary gifts, stating that it only exacerbates the situation.

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

Speaking to the podcast, she said, "You have two choices: defend your actions and attempt to justify them, or admit it was likely a mistake. If I could do it over, I wouldn't take the same steps, so I plan to organize an auction for charity or something similar."

"It may not be the worst crime, but attempting to defend it only exacerbates the situation."

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, charged Sir Keir with engaging in favoritism.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Politics Hub, he said, "There's a crisis of trust in the newly elected prime minister who campaigned on one set of principles, only to emerge as the ultimate insider."

The majority of Sir Keir's gifts and benefits, totaling £86,708 out of £107,145, were received during the previous parliament, with an additional £20,437 reported in the current session for accommodations that overlap both terms.

Labour peer Waheed Alli ranks as the top provider of gifts and hospitality, contributing a total valued at £39,122.

In a discussion with local media outlets on Thursday, Sir Keir asserted his total authority amid disputes within the government concerning the salary of his chief adviser.

When queried 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 pay of any of my team members. I'm sure you wouldn't anticipate that from me."

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