Over the past year, MPs have accepted £340,000 worth of sporting freebies, such as tickets to Premier League games and the World Cup in Qatar.

Over the course of the past year, more than 120 MPs have accepted sporting freebies totaling £340,000, £12,400 of which Sir Keir Starmer accepted from sources like a grocery app based in Turkey.

The gambling industry, building companies, and investment firms have provided free tickets and hospitality to members of parliament for some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including the Premier League and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Politicians have occasionally been able to purchase several tickets for events that are sold out to the general public.

Figures compiled from the MPs’ Register of Financial Interests show that between November 1, 2022, and October 30 of this year, over 120 MPs recorded trips to athletic events.

S stated that the free tickets might allow the companies giving them to influence the MPs.

The Labour leader, Sir Keir, is an Arsenal supporter, and he went to six away games for his team, including the highly anticipated London derbies against West Ham and Tottenham.

The companies that gave him the tickets, which were worth a total of £12,428: Getir, a grocery delivery service; Mulalley and Co., a construction company; and Cain International, an investment firm for real estate.

Following an investigation into his late declaration of financial interests last year, Sir Keir was compelled to give the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner his word that it would not happen again.

Car dealership Glyn Hopkin gave Home Secretary James Cleverly two tickets with hospitality for a Tottenham football match, valued at £877.98.

The House of Commons shadow leader, Labour MP Lucy Powell, accepted the greatest number of freebies (16 total, valued at £18,461). They featured the Rugby League World Cup final, the England vs. Australia Ashes Test series, and the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City.

Thanks to the Qatar Embassy’s flights, lodging, and hospitality, Tory MPs Nigel Adams, who left the Commons in June, Ranil Jayawardena, and Philip Davies all attended the World Cup in Qatar last winter. That came to £9,280 in total value.

Football and horse racing were the most popular outings.

“The public, who have faced one of the worst cost of living crises in decades, are likely to be appalled that MPs are getting free junkets to sports events,” stated Sue Hawley of the campaign group Spotlight on Corruption.

It is uncommon for someone to make a donation of this nature without hoping to gain more recognition or access.

“If Members of Parliament are to take such lavish hospitality, they must disclose with much more clarity exactly what has been discussed during these intimate conversations.”

“Sporting events offer companies an important opportunity to lobby parliamentarians and ingratiate themselves with those in power,” stated Steve Goodrich, head of investigations for Transparency International UK.

The public is not particularly reassured that privileged access and political influence cannot be purchased when members of parliament accept lavish gifts and hospitality.

It is not against the rules for Members of Parliament to accept hospitality as long as it is disclosed in the House of Commons register of interest within 28 days of the amount exceeding £3,000.

“The code of conduct for MPs sets the rules concerning what MPs must declare and is a matter for Parliament,” a government spokesman stated.

For a response, Labour was contacted.