Hardworking Starmer deserves ‘rest’ utilizing freebies – minister
Sir Keir Starmer is ok to take lavish freebies including posh seats at football matches because he works hard and deserves ‘a little bit of relaxation’, a senior Cabinet minister claimed today.
Jonathan Reynolds said he has ‘no objection’ to the Prime Minister receiving more than £100,000 of gifts since the 2019 election, more than any other MP.
Sir Keir is under fire for accepting the use of a luxury box at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium when he wants to watch his beloved Gunners.
He is also facing criticism over ‘wardrobegate’ revelations that he and his wife Victoria accepted clothes and personal shopper services worth thousands from a Labour donor, Lord Alli.
The allegations have seen him dubbed ‘Free Gear Keir’ by his critics, with reports today claiming the PM also used the peer’s £18million penthouse during the election campaign.
But on a media round this morning, Mr Reynolds tried to play down the row, saying that ministers work very hard and were entitled to take some time off with their families.
He told Times Radio: ‘I can tell you having been a secretary of state for two months, pretty much every working hour of it is spent working.
‘And if people get the chance for a little bit of relaxation as part of that, again, I’ve no problem or objection to that.’
Sir Keir Starmer, an avid Arsenal fan, accepted the most freebies of any MP since the general election, including football tickets
On a media round this morning, Mr Reynolds tried to play down the row, saying that ministers work very hard and were entitled to take some time off with their families.
And speaking to Sky News he added: ‘I think anyone who’s doing a job of the pressure, of the scale, of the importance, that the Prime Minister does, spends pretty much every bit of their waking life working on it, and if they’ve got the chance for a little bit of time with family or something that’s important to them, in this case lifelong support for a football team, again, I don’t think that’s a problem. I don’t think people object to that.’
Sir Keir is already a season ticket holder but he has been unable to watch games from his seat in the West Stand given his heightened security after becoming Prime Minister in July.
New analysis showed the PM received two and a half times more gifts and hospitality than the next MP, including tickets to watch the team in North London.
The PM, who is an ardent Gunners fan, has been offered the luxury gift by the club, to be used by him, his family and his security guards, according to ITV News.
Prices vary for boxes at the Emirates Stadium but they often cost more than £10,000 a game.
Sir Keir was already being dubbed ‘Sir Freebie’ for accepting gifts and tickets worth more than £107,000 since December 2019.
But the true extent of the benefits to him has come with a league table, compiled by Sky News‘ Westminster Accounts project.
The next highest in the rankings below Sir Keir is Commons Leaders Lucy Powell on £40,289, according to the analysis that excludes those who received help with legal fees.
One member of the Government branded the revelation ‘nuts’ and said freebies ‘should be banned’.
Sir Keir was allegedly warned while in opposition by some of his senior team that his willingness to accept gifts could cause him political damage – but he ignored them and said it was within the rules.
Some among the Labour ranks are said to be incandescent that the row over donations has dragged on for days – and they blame a lack of political grip on the Downing Street operation, heaping fresh pressure on chief of staff Sue Gray with private calls for her to be sacked.
Officials are also said to be warning that the PM could be at risk of inappropriate lobbying by signalling he will continue to accept football tickets.
The Government is proposing the creation of a regulator with power to oversee clubs in England’s top five leagues.
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell got the second most freebies, after the Prime Minister. She has claimed £40,289 in gifts since since the 2019 General Election
Conservative MP Greg Smith (pictured) accepted £32,509 worth of gifts
Karen Bradley MP accepted free gifts totaling £23,235
Sir John Whittingdale (pictured in his role as Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries in July 2023) received £18,728 worth of freebies
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said yes to £17,905 worth of free gifts
Dame Caroline Dinenage accepted gifts adding up to £16,993 since 2019
The Tories claimed last night it was ‘clear the only people who won’t suffer from Labour’s damage to the country are the Starmers and Sir Freebie’s top team’.
A party source added: ‘Whilst they’re living a life of luxury at the expense of others, they’re taking vital measures away from millions of pensioners.
‘We hope Starmer will remember those choosing between heating and eating as he sits in his free box at the football.’
The PM this week said: ‘I’m a massive Arsenal fan. I can’t go into the stands because of security reasons.
‘Therefore, if I don’t accept a gift of hospitality, I can’t go to a game. But never going to an Arsenal game again because I can’t accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.’
Sir Keir has previously declared thousands of pounds of gifts from clubs, including £2,500 of tickets and hospitality from Tottenham Hotspur for an Arsenal match.
The latest revelations follow details of gifts to his wife Victoria from Lord Alli.
The Labour donor and former Asos boss has given Sir Keir suits and spectacles worth £18,000 as well as around £5,000 worth of high-end clothes to Lady Starmer.
Ed Davey at the Liberal Democrat’s conference on September 17. The Lib Dem leader accepted a series of freebies since 2019 adding up to £16,591
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes accepted free gifts worth a total of £13,471
Keir Starmer walks with Lioness Fara Williams. The Prime Minister has signalled that he will continue to accept football tickets
Keir Starmer speaks to Prince George and Prince William at the Euro Final between Spain and England in Berlin
Labour donor Lord Alli gifted around £5,000 worth of high-end clothes to Lady Starmer
Victoria Starmer (right) is often praised for her high-fashion looks
The Labour peer also handed £14,000 to Bridget Phillipson, now Education Secretary, so she could ‘host a number of events’ – shortly before she staged a 40th birthday party.
He also gave Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner the use of a flat in New York worth £1,250 at New Year.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden defended Sir Keir, saying: ‘This is not somebody who thinks that somehow the rules don’t apply to them…He is a person of enormous integrity, and that will be reflected in the way that he operates.’
