September 18th 2024.
According to a recent investigation by Sky News, it has been revealed that Keir Starmer, the current leader of the Labour party, has received over £100,000 worth of gifts and freebies since assuming his position in December 2019. This amount is more than double the gifts and hospitality received by any other MP, with Sir Starmer topping the list by a significant margin.
The research conducted by Sky News tracks the flow of money in the UK political system and has found that Sir Starmer has received a total of £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality, which falls under the category of parliamentary register of MP interests. The MP in second place is Lucy Powell, the Commons leader, with just over £40,289 worth of freebies, followed by Tory Greg Smith in third place with £32,509 worth of gifts.
Naturally, with such a substantial amount of gifts and hospitality, concerns have been raised about the potential for inappropriate lobbying. Some members of the government have even gone as far as to call the situation "nuts" and believe that these freebies should be banned altogether.
One particular area of concern is Starmer's acceptance of football tickets and hospitality from Arsenal, one of the biggest donors of hospitality. The Premier League, which is currently lobbying against a football regulator, has contributed almost £40,000 in tickets to Starmer since he became Labour leader. When asked about this issue, Starmer defended his right to accept these gifts, stating that if he were to decline them, he would not be able to attend the games at all. He added that never being able to attend an Arsenal game again just because he cannot accept hospitality would be going too far.
Some of the most significant donations received by Sir Starmer include £39,122 from Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli, £12,588 from The Football Association Premier League, and £4,500 from Crownhawk Properties. These donations include a wide range of items such as accommodation, work clothing, and even multiple pairs of glasses.
The majority of these gifts and hospitality, amounting to £86,708, were accepted during the last parliament. However, an additional £20,437 was declared in this parliament for accommodation that straddles the two periods, as per Sky News' analysis.
When Sky News reached out to Number 10 for comment on the potential conflict of interest with regards to the football donations and the discussions that took place before the election about accepting hospitality, they declined to comment. It is worth noting that Starmer remains at the top of the table for gifts and hospitality, excluding legal donations.
Overall, it is clear that Keir Starmer has received a significant amount of gifts and freebies since becoming Labour leader. While some may argue that this could open the door to inappropriate influence, others believe that these gifts should be allowed as they allow Sir Starmer to attend events and games that he would otherwise not be able to. The debate continues, but one thing is for sure- Sir Starmer's name will remain at the top of the list for the foreseeable future.
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