Starmer investigated over football tickets gift
Labour leader faces an inquiry for failing to declare free hospitality and book royalties on time
SIR Keir Starmer is being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over multiple failures to register on time gifts of Premier League football tickets and book royalties.
The Labour leader is facing an inquiry for failing to declare within the time limit free hospitality he received from Crystal Palace in April and Watford in May worth more than £2,000, The Daily Telegraph understands. The tickets came from the clubs themselves.
The book fees under investigation are linked to two copyright payments for law books written by Sir Keir, one of £135.78 and another of £317.23.
The late registration of a ticket worth £522 to the British Kebab Awards in October 2021 and given to a member of Sir Keir’s staff may also be investigated.
Sir Keir has apologised to Kathryn Stone, the standards commissioner, for “administrative errors in his office” but he said that he was “absolutely confident” he had not broken the MPS’ code of conduct.
The sums are small but it will be embarrassing for him that payments were not declared within 28 days, given his attacks on Boris Johnson for his chaotic rule in Downing Street.
Allies have sought to portray the Labour leader as “Mr Rules” in contrast to Mr Johnson’s behaviour. The inquiry is untimely given Sir Keir is being investigated by Durham police over an alleged breach of Covid rules. He has promised to quit if fined. Mr Johnson, despite receiving a fixed penalty notice for attending his own birthday party in Downing Street during lockdown, has refused to resign.
In a further development last night, a Conservative MP wrote to Ms Stone asking the watchdog to investigate “potential breaches” of the code of conduct over the receipt of £25,000 for “legal advice given before 2020” and prior to his election as Labour leader. Alexander Stafford, the Conservative MP for Rother Valley, said the payments declared in the register of members’ financial interests failed to “disclose the source of this money, or indeed the ultimate client”. He claimed this was a breach of the rules.
The Crystal Palace vs Arsenal game was a gift for Sir Keir for two people to attend the directors’ box on April 4 and was worth £720. It was registered on May 5. Sir Keir, 59, who regularly plays five-a-side football, is a keen Arsenal supporter. Arsenal lost 3-0, a result that derailed their attempt to finish fourth in the league.
The Watford gift was for four tickets for the Watford vs Arsenal match on March 6 and was worth £1,416. It was registered on May 6, again outside the 28-day limit. Arsenal won 3-2.
A Labour source told the PA news agency that the investigation centred
‘Keir has apologised for the fact that administrative errors have led to a small number of late declarations’
on a number of “slightly late” declarations and that Sir Keir insisted he was confident he had not broken the rules.
During a visit to Wakefield, he told broadcasters the allegations were not a surprise, adding: “My office is dealing with it and will be replying in due course.”
Asked if he was sure he had done nothing wrong, he said: “Absolutely confident, there’s no problem here.”
Sir Keir’s spokesman said: “Keir Starmer takes his declaration responsibilities very seriously and has already apologised for the fact that administrative errors in his office have led to a small number of late declarations.
“The standards commissioner has asked for more information which we are happy to provide.”
The matters relate to the section of the MPS’ code that states: “Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.”