MPs have enjoyed hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of free hospitality at major sporting events this summer, it emerged last night.
Ministers and senior Labour figures were handed coveted tickets to the Euro 2020 tournament, Wimbledon’s Centre Court and the British Grand Prix among other popular events.
An updated edition of the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, published this week, shows that MPs have declared freebies worth an estimated £210,000 since lockdown began to be eased in March.
MPs have enjoyed an estimated £210,000 worth of free hospitality at major sporting events this summer. Pictured: Boris Johnson at the Euro 2020 Final between Italy and England
Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams – a former sports minister – has declared that he received £8,037 worth of tickets to Euro 2020 football matches including the final at Wembley.
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock – who is married to former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt – was treated by the Danish Football Association to transport and a pre-match dinner before watching England in the semi-final.
Qatar paid for four MPs – including Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle – to go to the Goodwood racing festival.
Ministers and senior Labour figures received coveted tickets to the Euro 2020 tournament, Wimbledon's Centre Court and the British Grand Prix. Pictured: Australia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates with the Wimbledon trophy
Meanwhile, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, and his wife were treated to £2,200 worth of hospitality at Wimbledon as well as a £3,074 day out at Wembley.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club also gave former defence secretary Liam Fox pairs of tickets for two separate days.
Tory chairman Amanda Milling and digital minister Matt Warman declared free tickets to the Formula 1 race at Silverstone.
And culture committee chairman Julian Knight got weekend passes worth £454 for Latitude music festival.