Sky News recently unveiled that Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has received and declared over £100,000 in gifts and freebies since December 2019, the most of any MP. Top donors include the Football Association Premier League and Lord Waheed Alli, who gifted £12,588 and £159,030 respectively. Starmer justified the acceptance of such gifts as being within the rules. According to the Westminster Accounts, a database created by Sky and Tortoise, Starmer has accepted 13 tickets for Arsenal football matches and 2 tickets for the 2024 men’s European Championship final.
The Football Governance Bill is legislation that aims to “promote financial sustainability” and the creation of an independent football regulator. If passed, the bill would put higher financial scrutiny on the Premier League. Near the time when the Football Governance Bill was first brought to Parliament, Starmer had received 4 Taylor Swift tickets as well as hospitality from the Premier League.
The timing of these freebies is suspicious, but as the Football Governance Bill is currently past its second reading in Parliament, these donations are unlikely to stop the bill from passing or cause any major amendments. On top of this, the committee that oversees the bill would be under pressure to appoint MPs who have not taken any gifts by the Premier League or other football associations.
Starmer has argued that he would not be able to attend Arsenal matches due to security concerns despite his income of well over £160,000. This seems extreme; a UK prime minister must have ways of going to such public events while still preserving their safety. It’s likely that he requires a private viewing spot with security, but communication with an events manager or someone of equal standing could get this easily sorted. Even if it is more complicated than initially thought, by constantly accepting these freebies the Prime Minister gives the impression that he is willing to work in favour of the Premier League.
The acceptance of gifts has caused another effect. MP Rosie Duffield quit as a Labour MP on 28 September, outraged by Starmer’s “hypocrisy”. The Prime Minister is already under fire for the controversial cutting winter fuel payments and doesn’t need anything more to further destabilise the party. What is so far a lone incident could lead to further resignations and possible defections.
Illustration by Lucy Izabella