Key facts
- Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accepted sport-related freebies valued at £33,000.
- Gifts included Directors' Box tickets from Arsenal, hospitality for the Women's Euros final, and tickets from the Football Association of Ireland.
- Other accepted items included Olympic and Paralympic hospitality, golf club membership, and horse racing tickets.
- Starmer is considering post-premiership activities, including international-facing roles.
- Starmer plans to stay on the backbenches until the next election.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accepted sport-related freebies valued at tens of thousands of pounds during his time in Downing Street. Official data indicates the total value of these perks is £33,000. Gifts included Directors' Box tickets from Arsenal, hospitality for the Women's Euros final, and tickets from the Football Association of Ireland. Other accepted items included Olympic and Paralympic hospitality, golf club membership, and horse racing tickets.
Arsenal, a club of which Starmer is a fan and season ticket holder, provided the largest share of these benefits, including Directors' Box tickets worth an estimated £20,000. Other football-related freebies, such as hospitality offerings from the EFL for the Carabao Cup final and tickets to Brighton and Hove Albion, along with Taylor Swift tickets provided by the Football Association, amounted to £5,800.
Starmer also accepted hospitality to attend the Women's Euros final, an Arsenal match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and tickets from the Football Association of Ireland. Beyond football, he received over £8,000 in hospitality tickets and memberships for events including the Olympics and Paralympics. Additionally, he was given an honorary membership from Ellesborough Golf Club valued at £2,000 and tickets for horse racing events worth £2,500.
As his premiership concludes, Starmer is reportedly considering various post-office activities, ranging from a cookery course to international-facing roles where he has garnered respect. Allies suggest he may be interested in the NATO secretary general position. He intends to remain on the backbenches until the next election, though some close to him are uncertain about his immediate plans. Starmer expressed pride in his legacy, particularly in revitalizing the Labour party and securing a general election victory.