Who doesn’t love a good freebie? Taster samples at a local Tesco, free goodie bags after a tough 10km run or even a birthday party, one-month trials on Netflix or Prime (the streaming service, not the drink), Meerkat vouchers for the cinema, or even unlimited food and drinks in a lounge or waiting room—these are examples of what a quintessential Brit lives for. Even Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has joined in on the action. But you won’t catch him in all the Tesco supermarkets in London sampling a tub of strawberries and cream. No, that’s not good enough for him; he’s seemingly entitled to bigger gifts. Thus, as the era of “Two-Tier Keir” fades, a new age looms: the era of “Free-Gear Keir.”
Starmer has faced heavy criticism in the media recently, and rightly so. A table from Sky News shows that, since 2019, he has controversially accepted over £100,000 worth of gifts and freebies – more than double that of the next MP on the list. And while £86,708 of these gifts were accepted before he became leader, a staggering £20,437 has been received since he took office. He’s only been in power for two months—who knows what the total will be by the end?
It’s safe to say this money was not spent on free trials of streaming services or coupons. The Premier League is a major contributor, donating around £40,000 in football hospitality tickets. While around 100,000 supporters are waiting for an Arsenal ticket, Starmer has skipped the queue and gets to watch them for free. At least Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister, pays for and watches Southampton matches from the stands with everyone else. Starmer also declared that he received four free tickets to attend a Taylor Swift concert during the election campaign, worth around £4,000, and two tickets to the Euros final, worth around £1,600.
A significant portion of these gifts has also come from Lord Ali, the former chairman of online fashion retailer ASOS. Lord Ali’s donations, both before and after Starmer became Prime Minister, were spent on a personal shopper, ‘work clothes’ for him and his wife, and multiple pairs of glasses, totalling £2,485. However, MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days of receiving them, and it’s understood that some of these donations were submitted late, prompting calls for an investigation into the breach of rules.
When questioned about attending Arsenal matches for free, Starmer explained: “I’ve had season tickets at Arsenal for a long time now, up in the stands, where I’ve gone with my son and my friends year after year. Now that I’m Prime Minister, security advice says I can’t go to the stands. Now that I’ve explained the situation, I think most people would agree that’s a fair argument.” The arguments from his security staff may well be correct, but why can’t a man with a £7.7 million net worth simply do what most decent people would do and pay for his own ticket?
He also tried to shift the focus by discussing his plans for change: “I just step back and ask myself, ‘What did people vote for in this election?’ They voted for change. It was a clear mandate for change, and I’m absolutely determined to deliver that.” This response feels disingenuous and calculating.
This freebie fiasco is spiteful and astute. At the same time as Starmer lines his own pockets, the Labour Party has warned of a tough year ahead. October’s budget is likely to bring tax hikes and benefit cuts, hitting hardest those already struggling to feed their children or heat their homes. Rachel Reeves has also confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment—a benefit scheme for pensioners—will be cut, and there will be a 20% increase in VAT on private schools. While we brace ourselves for what’s coming, the Prime Minister enjoys a growing list of perks.
Starmer has had ample time to convince the public that he is the right person for the job and to deliver on his promise of change. But with each passing week, he’s digging himself a deeper hole, eroding public trust. The country voted him in, and now we must endure five years of a government on the make, on the take, and at the very least, having (if not eating) their cake!
Jack Watson has a Substack newsletter called Ten Foot Tigers about being a Hull City fan. You can subscribe here.
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