Labour’s big lead on freebies

Keir Starmer has been forced to defend accepting a slew of freebies, after it emerged he had received more by value than any other MP. But the Labour leader is far from alone. The shadow cabinet has accepted more than £220,000 worth of free tickets and gifts for themselves or staff over the course of the last parliament, Tortoise analysis shows. The data also reveals a surge in giving as Labour has become more electorally viable, peaking in the third quarter of last year (the height of the freebie-season thanks to Glastonbury, the Proms, the British Grand Prix, Cricket, Wimbledon, and other festivals). The trajectory for 2024, prior to the election being called, suggested members of the shadow cabinet were on course for a new high.

In the first half of this year, the shadow cabinet had enjoyed freebies worth nearly £55,000. At the same point last year it stood at £27,000, while in 2022 it was less than £18,000.

Starmer easily beats the rest of his team, pocketing £76,000-worth of free clothes, hotel stays and tickets to events since 2019. The shadow leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, is the second biggest recipient, primarily in her former role as shadow culture secretary. She has registered 40 gifts, worth nearly £40,000, over the same period.

Jonathan Reynolds, shadow business and trade secretary, comes next with nearly £17,000-worth of gifts, including £3,900 from the British Recorded Music Industry to attend the Brit awards with a guest in 2023.

Rachel Reeves, who was made shadow chancellor in 2021, accepted gifts totalling nearly £10,000. Her event of choice appears to be Wimbledon, receiving seven tickets worth £2,300 over the last two years from The Lawn Tennis Association.

Starmer’s haul includes football tickets to see his team Arsenal play in multiple matches, as well as £16,200 of “work clothing” and nearly £2,500 for “multiple pairs of glasses” from Labour peer and party fundraiser Lord Waheed Alli, the FT reported this week.

While it’s hard to compare, given the frequency of government reshuffles, the current Conservative Cabinet has enjoyed far fewer perks. Since November 2023, the last time Rishi Sunak rejigged his top team, the Tories have accepted £11,800 of freebies. Over the same period, Starmer’s team has had £58,000 lavished on them.