With debate around free gifts for MPs a running theme of the Labour Party’s annual conference, BBC Sport has looked into how many ‘freebie’ tickets to sports events ministers have received this year.
We looked at the register of MPs’ declarations of financial interests between 1 January and 2 September 2024 – the last time the list was updated – and found:
- Prime Minister and Arsenal fan Sir Keir Starmer received the most hospitality tickets of any MP for matches in the Premier League, Championship and Champions League totalling just under £13,000 – donated to him by the Premier League and seven English clubs.
- The Premier League also gifted Starmer an additional £4,000 worth of hospitality tickets for a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium in June.
- In this eight-month period, the Premier League gave out free tickets valued at £40,994 to MPs from several political parties.
Is this significant?
The Premier League’s giveaways – which also included Brit Awards hospitality passes worth over £6,500 passed on to five Labour MPs – have come at a time of ongoing uncertainty over the implementation of an independent regulator in English football.
The Football Governance Bill was announced by the previous Conservative government and reintroduced by Labour earlier this summer.
But the Premier League has warned that a regulator could unleash “unintended consequences”. A clause in the original bill which says the regulator must abide by the UK government’s “foreign and trade policy objectives” is coming under significant pressure from Uefa, European football’s governing body.
The government is expected to put a new version of the bill before Parliament in the coming months.
A Premier League spokesperson told the BBC: “The Premier League engages with a broad range of individuals including MPs. Like all industries, including many sports organisations, this is normal practice.”
MPs are obliged to declare donations and extra-parliamentary income within 28 days.
The ministerial code, which details the conduct expected of government ministers, says: “No Minister should accept gifts, hospitality or services from anyone which would, or might appear to, place him or her under an obligation.”
What were Starmer’s tickets?
In the past, Starmer has declared thousands of pounds worth of tickets and hospitality for Arsenal matches, from the club itself, other clubs, the Premier League and commercial companies, since becoming Labour leader in 2020.
Between January and September this year, Starmer was given hospitality tickets to watch Arsenal’s away matches against West Ham, Brighton, Wolves, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United by each of the respective clubs.
He was also given tickets for the Championship game between Norwich and Sunderland at Carrow Road, which he attended with former shadow chancellor and Norwich fan Ed Balls, as well as tickets totalling £3,000 for Arsenal’s home Champions League match against Porto by the Premier League.
Starmer’s use of seats in the directors’ box for Arsenal’s home matches at Emirates Stadium is not listed as a donation because those tickets are not possible to purchase.
The Labour Party declined to comment, but Starmer told Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday: “I understand why people are asking those questions [about free tickets]. As a result of security, I can’t go in the stand any more, so Arsenal have said ‘be our guest in the directors’ box if and when you can make it to a match’.
“It means I can continue to do something which is really special to me with my boy.”
Other football ticket freebies
Manchester City are the club which has given away the biggest volume of free football tickets to MPs in 2024 so far, with nine tickets totalling £4,528.
Including music, Liverpool have gifted a combined £4,876 worth of tickets for matches and Swift’s Eras Tour events at Anfield to Merseyside MPs.
The Football Association gave away a total of £7,152 worth of tickets, while the figure for the EFL is £3,570.
An FA spokesperson told the BBC that a “very small number” of tickets go to politicians and that last season it provided more than 20,000 complimentary tickets to its “community and charity partners”.
They added: “We host key stakeholders at all of our events at Wembley Stadium and across the country, whether they are from the football family, community groups, charities, commercial partners, the media, ex-players and political guests.”
An EFL spokesperson said: “It is important that the EFL and parliamentarians continue to meet regularly to discuss current issues directly affecting the game but also the local communities our clubs represent. Providing a modest number of tickets in our hospitality areas for EFL finals has always proved to be an effective way to carry out this type of engagement.”
What about other sports and other MPs?
- Five MPs – four of them from the Conservative Party – were given hospitality tickets to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix weekend, with a value totalling £18,921, by the Silverstone circuit’s operators.
- Tickets valued at £5,700 were gifted to eight MPs from different parties by the Lawn Tennis Association and All England Club, while golf’s R&A gifted tickets worth just over £2,000 to four MPs for The Open at St Andrews.
- Around £8,500 worth of hospitality passes went to MPs attending the Grand National, given by companies including private health firm Randox, commercial racing company The Jockey Club and Cheltenham Racecourse.
Other MPs are among recipients of the highest total cash value of ticket donations:
Former secretary of state for Northern Ireland Dame Karen Bradley was given free hospitality tickets with a total value of £10,400 for the British Grand Prix, Grand National and two FA Cup games at Wembley.
Labour MP James Frith was given the largest individual free pass to a sports event, having been awarded £4,812 by IT company Atos for tickets, accommodation and food for eight days at the Olympic Games in Paris. He was also gifted tickets for two Premier League games worth a combined £3,571 by mobile phone company Three.
Lucy Powell, who served as shadow minister for sport in the build-up to Labour’s general election victory, was given tickets valued at £4,174 to attend football matches involving Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as the British Grand Prix and Grand National.
No free sports ticket donations are documented for leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak. The former prime minister was pictured at Southampton matches during the club’s Championship promotion campaign, but his attendance at those events is not listed in Parliament’s register of members’ financial interests.
The BBC has also contacted the Conservative Party, Liverpool FC, Manchester City FC, the Lawn Tennis Association, the R&A, and Silverstone for comment.
A list of ‘free’ sports events tickets declared by MPs
Premier League
Labour:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan – two hospitality tickets worth £900 – 22 April 2024
Dr Rupa Huq – one hospitality ticket for the Brit Awards worth £1,250 – 2 March 2024
Liz Kendall – two hospitality tickets for the Brit Awards worth £1,500 – 2 March 2024
Peter Kyle – one hospitality ticket for the Brit Awards worth £1,500 – 2 March 2024
Pat McFadden – two hospitality ticket for the Brit Awards worth £3,000 – 2 March 2024
Sir Keir Starmer – five hospitality tickets for Arsenal vs Porto worth £3,000 – 12 March 2024
Jas Athwal – one hospitality ticket for Arsenal match worth £450 – 19 May 2024
Amanda Hack – two hospitality tickets for Arsenal vs Everton worth £450 – 19 May 2024
Darren Jones – four hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £3,400 – 20 August 2024
Catherine McKinnell – two hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £2,000 – 21 June 2024
Joe Morris – two hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £1,660 – 20 August 2024
Jake Richards – one hospitality ticket for the Brit awards worth £1,250 – 2 March 2024
Keir Starmer – four hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £4,000 – 21 June 2024
Mike Tapp – one hospitality ticket for Arsenal vs Everton worth £450 – 19 May 2024
Fred Thomas – two hospitality tickets for Arsenal vs Everton worth £900 – 19 May 2024
Chris Ward – two hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £1,660 – 20 August 2024
Conservative:
Dame Karen Bradley – three hospitality tickets to FA Cup semi-final worth £2,634 – 20 April 2024
Steve Brine – two hospitality tickets to FA Cup semi-final worth £1,756 – 20 April 2024
Brendan Clarke-Smith – one hospitality ticket for England vs Belgium worth £550 – 26 March 2024
Dr Therese Coffey – one hospitality ticket to League Cup final worth £1,100 – 25 February 2024
Dr Therese Coffey – one hospitality ticket for match worth £550 – 26 March 2024
Damian Collins – two hospitality tickets to League Cup final worth £2,200 – 25 February 2024
Mark Eastwood – two hospitality tickets for England vs Belgium worth £1,100 – 26 March 2024
Justin Tomlinson – one hospitality ticket to League Cup final worth £1,100 – 25 February 2024
Total = £40,994
Huddersfield Town
Labour:
Kim Leadbeater – two hospitality tickets for match vs WBA worth £230 – 10 March 2024
Kim Leadbeater – three hospitality tickets for match vs Millwall worth £316.20 – 6 April 2024
Manchester City
Labour:
Lucy Powell – two hospitality tickets for Man City Women vs Man Utd Women worth £150 – 23 March 2024
Lucy Powell – one hospitality ticket for Man City vs Arsenal worth £420 – 31 March 2024
Lucy Powell – two hospitality tickets for match vs Newcastle worth £840 – 16 March 2024
Keir Starmer – two hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £900 – 31 March 2024
Andrew Western – one hospitality ticket for Man City vs Newcastle FA Cup match worth £420 – 16 March 2024
Conservative:
Karen Bradley – one hospitality ticket for FA Cup final worth £1,798 – 25 May 2024
Total = £4,528
West Ham
Labour:
Keir Starmer – two hospitality tickets for match worth £2,000 – 11 February 2024
Norwich City
Labour:
Keir Starmer – four hospitality tickets for match worth £820 – 2 March 2024
Brighton
Labour:
Keir Starmer – four hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £500 – 9 April 2024
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Labour:
Keir Starmer – four hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £1,488 – 20 April 2024
Pat McFadden – one hospitality ticket for match worth £372 – 20 April 2024
Tottenham Hotspur
Labour:
Keir Starmer – five hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £2,500 – 28 April 2024
David Lammy – five hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £2,500 – 28 April 2024
Manchester United
Labour:
Keir Starmer – two hospitality tickets for Arsenal match worth £1,790 – 12 May 2024
Conservative:
Chris Grayling – two hospitality tickets for match worth £400 – 14 January 2024
Chris Grayling – two hospitality tickets for match worth £400 – 24 February 2024
Wrexham
Labour:
Jo Stevens – one hospitality ticket for Wrexham vs Stockport County worth £360 – 27 April 2024
Peterborough United
Conservative:
Paul Bristow – two hospitality tickets for Bristol Street Motors Trophy final worth £500 – 7 April 2024
Liverpool
Labour:
Dan Carden – two hospitality tickets for match vs Newcastle worth £980 – 1 January 2024
Alison McGovern – two hospitality tickets for match vs Wolves worth £598 – 22 May 2024
Kim Johnson – two hospitality tickets to Taylor Swift at Anfield worth £900 – 13 June 2024
Dan Carden – two hospitality tickets to Taylor Swift at Anfield worth £900 – 13 June 2024
Dan Carden – two hospitality tickets for Jurgen Klopp leaving event worth £598 – 28 May 2024
Ian Byrne – two hospitality tickets to Taylor Swift at Anfield worth £900 – 13 June 2024 (paid for by club CEO Billy Hogan)
Total = £4,876
Everton
Labour:
Dan Carden – two hospitality tickets for match vs Luton worth £600 – 27 January 2024
Middlesbrough
Conservative:
Sir Simon Clarke – two hospitality tickets worth £250 – 23 January 2024
Sir Simon Clarke – two hospitality tickets worth £250 – 16 March 2024
Oxford United
Labour:
Anneliese Dodds – family hospitality tickets for match worth £305 – 4 March 2024
Cardiff City
Labour:
Stephen Doughty – two hospitality tickets for Wales vs Finland worth £357.60 – 21 March 2024
Crystal Palace
Labour:
Kate Osbourne – one hospitality ticket for match worth £360 – 30 January 2024
Coventry City
Labour:
Taiwo Owatemi – two hospitality tickets for FA Cup semi-final worth £540 – 21 April 2024
Hibernian
SNP:
Tommy Shepherd – three hospitality tickets for match worth £390 – 12 May 2024
Football Association
Conservative:
Lee Doherty – three hospitality tickets for Women’s FA Cup final worth £450 – 19 April 2024
Labour:
Anneliese Dodds – three hospitality tickets for Women’s FA Cup final worth £450 – 19 April 2024
Nick Thomas-Symonds – two hospitality tickets for League Cup final worth £476 – 25 February 2024
Preet Kaur Gill – two hospitality tickets for League Cup final worth £476 – 25 February 2024
Kim Leadbeater – two hospitality tickets for League Cup final worth £476 – 25 February 2024
Kim Leadbeater – two hospitality tickets for England vs Belgium worth £476 – 26 March 2024
Julie Elliott – two hospitality tickets for England vs Belgium worth £476 – 26 March 2024
Lucy Powell – two tickets to Women’s FA Cup final worth £100 – 25 May 2024
Lucy Powell – two hospitality tickets for Man Utd vs Man City semi-final in the FA Cup worth £400 – 25 May 2024
Wes Streeting – four hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £1,160 – 15 August 2024
Bridget Phillipson – two hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £552.24 – 15 August 2024
Liberal Democrat:
Munira Wilson – two hospitality tickets for England vs Belgium worth £476 – 26 March 2024
Munira Wilson – three hospitality tickets for Women’s FA Cup final worth £600 – 12 May 2024
Ed Davey – two hospitality tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley worth £584 – 15 August 2024
Total = £7,152.24
Football League
Conservative:
Steve Baker – two hospitality tickets for Bristol Street Motors Trophy final worth £720 – 7 April 2024
Chris Green – two hospitality tickets for League One play-off final worth £800 – 18 May 2024
Labour:
Clive Betts – one hospitality ticket for League Cup final worth £400 – 25 February 2024
Alex Sobel – two hospitality tickets for Championship play-off final worth £900 – 26 May 2024
SNP:
Stephen Flynn – one hospitality ticket for League Cup final worth £400 – 25 February 2024
David Linden – one hospitality ticket for League Cup final worth £350 – 25 February 2024
Total = £3,570
Scottish FA
Independent:
Brendan Angus MacNeil – Two hospitality tickets for match worth £798 – 20 April 2024
Silverstone
Conservative:
Sarah Bool – two hospitality tickets for British Grand Prix worth £3,636 – 7 July 2024
Dame Karen Bradley – four tickets (two with hospitality) for British Grand Prix worth £4,168 – 7 July 2024
Priti Patel – two hospitality tickets for British Grand Prix worth £3,300 – 7 July 2024
Greg Smith – four hospitality tickets for British Grand Prix worth £2,193 – 5 July 2024
Greg Smith – two hospitality tickets for British Grand Prix worth £5,160 – 6 July 2024
Labour:
Lucy Powell – two tickets for the British Grand Prix worth £464 – 7 July 2024
Total = £18,921
Grand National
Conservative:
Karen Bradley – two hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £1,800 – 13 April 2024 (paid for by The Jockey Club)
Kevin Hollinrake – two hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £1,800 – 13 April 2024 (paid for by Cheltenham Racecourse)
Labour:
Lucy Powell – two hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £1,800– 13 April 2024 (paid for by The Jockey Club)
David Baines – two hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £1,800 – 13 April 2024 (paid for by The Jockey Club)
Bill Esterson – one hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £900 – 13 April 2024 (paid for by The Jockey Club)
Kim Johnson – two hospitality tickets for the Grand National worth £498– 15 April 2024 (paid for by Randox)
Total = £8,598
Wimbledon/Lawn Tennis Association
Labour:
Tracy Gilbert – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £550 – 13 July 2024
Gordon McKee – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £550 – 14 July 2024
Stephanie Peacock – kit given for a visit to Wimbledon worth £460 – 1 March 2024
Toby Perkins – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £1,438.24 – 11 July 2024
Bridget Phillipson – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £1,060 – 13 July 2024
Alex Sobel – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £392 – 11 July 2024
Conservative:
Helen Grant – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £458 – 13 July 2024
Laura Trott – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £400 – 10 July 2024
Liberal Democrat:
Layla Moran – two tickets for Wimbledon worth £392 – 12 July 2024
Total = £5,700.24
R&A Championships
Liberal Democrat:
Wendy Chamberlain – two hospitality tickets for The Open worth £750 – 19 July 2024
Labour:
Alan Gemmell – one hospitality ticket for The Open worth £450 – 19 July 2024
Conservative:
John Lamont – one hospitality ticket for The Open worth £375 – 20 July 2024
Robbie Moore – one hospitality ticket for The Open worth £450 – 20 July 2024
Total = £2,025
