Key facts
- MPs have declared nearly £400,000 in hospitality, including tickets to events, between January and July.
- The hospitality was provided by various organisations, including industry groups and corporations.
- Several prominent MPs, including cabinet ministers, accepted these gifts.
- The disclosures come after a previous scandal involving politicians accepting free tickets.
- Transparency rules for declaring such gifts have been enhanced.
- Critics argue that accepting these gifts could compromise MPs' judgment.
Members of Parliament (MPs) have accepted nearly £400,000 in hospitality, including tickets to concerts and sporting events, between January and July this year. This trend has drawn accusations that politicians are failing to learn from past scandals, particularly after a previous outcry in early 2024 concerning Keir Starmer's acceptance of football tickets and gifts.
Recent disclosures reveal significant hospitality accepted by MPs now in cabinet roles. Lucy Powell, the education secretary, received £858 tickets to a Harry Styles concert from PRS for Music. Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, accepted £1,839 worth of tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show from Lloyds Banking Group. Anneliese Midgley, the chief whip, declared hospitality for the Brit Awards (£3,432), Cheltenham Festival (£350), and the Grand National (£560).
Other notable recipients include Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, who accepted £1,480 in tickets to the Wimbledon men's singles final, and Ellie Reeves, the attorney general, who received a £1,314 ticket to the Ivor Novello Awards. Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, declared approximately £6,000 in hospitality, largely related to his former role, including Brit Awards tickets worth £3,800.
The acceptance of free hospitality had appeared to decrease following scrutiny of Starmer's gifts and Rachel Reeves's attendance at a concert. Reeves later stated she would not accept free concert tickets again due to public perception, despite defending her initial decision on security grounds. Matthew Pennycock, another minister, had previously stated his personal view that MPs should pay for such events themselves.
Organisations such as PRS for Music, Flutter, and Lloyds Banking Group were among those providing hospitality. Google and Diageo also hosted MPs. While some gifts were related to constituency interests, critics like Sue Hawley from Spotlight on Corruption and Duncan Hames from Transparency International UK argue that such hospitality can appear to compromise judgment and place MPs under obligation to those seeking influence.
Transparency rules have been strengthened, requiring more detailed monthly declarations of the value of gifts and hospitality. Ticket prices have also increased, contributing to the higher declared values. The ministerial code states that ministers should not accept gifts that could compromise their judgment, though it acknowledges that attending events with offered hospitality is sometimes part of their duties, making it a matter of personal judgment.