Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Tops MP Gift and Hospitality Chart with Over £100,000 in Declared Freebies

Sir Keir Starmer has reported receiving gifts and complimentary items worth over £100,000, the most among MPs

According to Sky News' Westminster Accounts project, the prime minister has recorded the highest amount in gifts, benefits, and hospitality among MPs, exceeding £100,000 since December 2019.

By Sam Coates, assistant political editor, and Tom Larkin, political production manager

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 09:

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Sky News has uncovered that Sir Keir Starmer has accepted significantly more complimentary gifts than any other Member of Parliament since he assumed leadership of the Labour Party.

Authorities are concerned that the prime minister's acceptance of invitations to attend football games may pose a conflict of interest, especially in light of proposed reforms to the sport's regulatory body, reforms that are unpopular with numerous clubs.

According to a ranking developed for Sky News' Westminster Accounts project, which analyzes the flow of money in politics, the prime minister accepted gifts and hospitality that were more than double the amount received by any other Member of Parliament.

Official addresses worries about complimentary Swift concert passes – ongoing updates

Since December 2019, the Prime Minister has been the recipient of £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality, as noted under a particular category in the parliamentary register of MPs' interests.

In the league rankings, the individual with the second highest total is Commons leader Lucy Powell, who received gifts valued at £40,289, whereas the prime minister's gifts were about equal to those of the following five MPs put together.

The table omits information regarding individuals who received assistance with legal costs.

"It's crazy"

A government official described the situation as "crazy" and stated that the giveaways "ought to be prohibited."

Sky News has gathered information indicating that authorities are cautioning the prime minister that his decision to keep attending football matches could expose him to undue lobbying influences.

Discover more: Navigating the Westminster Accounts: A guide to exploring the database on your own. Westminster Accounts: Find information on your MP.

Officials are typically advised to steer clear of accepting any hospitality from groups linked to current government regulatory matters, and currently, the establishment of a football regulator is being reviewed.

The Premier League ranks among the top contributors of hospitality gifts, with Sir Keir receiving close to £40,000 in football match tickets.

Sir Keir reported receiving £12,588 in gifts from the Premier League, which opposes the establishment of a football regulator. These gifts included four Taylor Swift concert tickets valued at £4,000 during the election period, tickets to the Euro finals priced at £1,628, and various tickets to multiple Arsenal games totaling more than £6,000.

Navigating the Westminster Accounts

Prime Minister stands firm amid backlash

Sir Keir disregarded concerns from members of his top team who cautioned that the topic of freebies might harm his political standing while he was in opposition.

Negative press surrounding his acceptance of gifts led to a debate within his team at the Leader of the Opposition's office. Despite the criticism, he defended the ongoing acceptance of gifts by stating it was compliant with existing regulations.

Leading members of the Labour Party are extremely frustrated that the narrative regarding complimentary benefits for the Starmer family has persisted for several days, with ministers providing varying and frequently conflicting statements.

Critics are pointing to insufficient political control over the process, increasing the strain on Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray, and leading to confidential demands for her demotion or dismissal.

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Top contributor updates Prime Minister's attire

A significant portion of Sir Keir's gifts and hospitality, amounting to £86,708 out of the total £107,145, was received during the previous parliament, while £20,437 was recorded in the current parliament for accommodation that spans both terms.

Labour peer Waheed Alli stands out as the top contributor of gifts and hospitality, presenting items valued at £39,122.

The contributions featured a non-disclosed gift of housing valued at £20,437, "work attire" amounting to £16,200, and several sets of spectacles totaling £2,485.

In confidential conversations while in the opposition, Sir Keir had defended his acceptance of football tickets, arguing that it did not present a conflict of interest. However, one participant in these talks admitted that they had not taken the policy into account.

Earlier this week, Sir Keir justified his acceptance of complimentary football tickets, stating that security worries prevent him from using his usual seat at Arsenal games.

He mentioned, "If I reject an offer of hospitality, it means missing out on attending a match. One might think, 'That's just unfortunate.' Hence the necessity to log such gifts. However, the idea of never watching an Arsenal match again simply because I refuse hospitality seems a tad extreme."

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Today was particularly challenging for Sir Keir Starmer as the BBC reported that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, earns over £170,000—a salary that surpasses that of the Prime Minister. Previously serving as the ethics chief for the last administration, Ms. Gray's continued allowance of this salary practice has sparked outrage even among Starmer's supporters.

This is a humiliating situation for Sir Keir, especially considering his past comments on the substantial salary received by Dominic Cummings, who served as chief of staff to Boris Johnson.

The administration acknowledges the amount of the salary but maintains that she did not determine her own pay, which exceeds that of her predecessor.

Critics familiar with the procedure have questioned this approach. They note that previous chiefs of staff, before Ms. Gray, were required to approve recommendations regarding advisor salaries and provide guidance on ministerial decisions.

Sky News inquired with Downing Street if donations from football entities posed a conflict of interest, and sought clarification on the pre-election conversations regarding the suitability of accepting hospitality.

We reached out for a response regarding the Prime Minister leading the list of Members of Parliament in receiving gifts and hospitality, aside from lawful contributions. There was no reply.

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