Sir Keir Starmer 'gifted season use of Arsenal corporate box'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly been gifted the use of a corporate box at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. 

The PM, who is an ardent Gunners fan, has been offered the luxury gift by the club, to be used by him, his family and his security guards, according to ITV News. 

Sir Keir is already a season ticket holder but he has been unable to watch games from his seat in the West Stand given his heightened security after becoming Prime Minister in July. 

Prices vary for boxes at the Emirates Stadium but they often cost more than £10,000 a game.

It is the latest in a growing list of donations for the PM who has already sparked anger amid the ongoing 'Wardrobegate' row. 

Shocking data revealed last night that Sir Keir has been given more freebies than any other MP since the 2019 general election.

Sir Keir was already being dubbed 'Sir Freebie' for accepting gifts and tickets worth more than £107,000 since December 2019.

But the true extent of the benefits to him has come with a league table, compiled by Sky News' Westminster Accounts project.

The next highest in the rankings below Sir Keir is Commons Leaders Lucy Powell on £40,289, according to the analysis that excludes those who received help with legal fees.

One member of the Government branded the revelation 'nuts' and said freebies 'should be banned'.

Sir Keir was allegedly warned while in opposition by some of his senior team that his willingness to accept gifts could cause him political damage – but he ignored them and said it was within the rules.

Some among the Labour ranks are said to be incandescent that the row over donations has dragged on for days – and they blame a lack of political grip on the Downing Street operation, heaping fresh pressure on chief of staff Sue Gray with private calls for her to be sacked.

Officials are also said to be warning that the PM could be at risk of inappropriate lobbying by signalling he will continue to accept football tickets.

The Government is proposing the creation of a regulator with power to oversee clubs in England's top five leagues.

The Tories claimed last night it was 'clear the only people who won't suffer from Labour's damage to the country are the Starmers and Sir Freebie's top team'.

A party source added: 'Whilst they're living a life of luxury at the expense of others, they're taking vital measures away from millions of pensioners.

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'We hope Starmer will remember those choosing between heating and eating as he sits in his free box at the football.'

The PM this week said: 'I'm a massive Arsenal fan. I can't go into the stands because of security reasons.

'Therefore, if I don't accept a gift of hospitality, I can't go to a game. But never going to an Arsenal game again because I can't accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.'

Sir Keir has previously declared thousands of pounds of gifts from clubs, including £2,500 of tickets and hospitality from Tottenham Hotspur for an Arsenal match.

The latest revelations follow details of gifts to his wife Victoria from Lord Alli.

The Labour donor and former Asos boss has given Sir Keir suits and spectacles worth £18,000 as well as around £5,000 worth of high-end clothes to Lady Starmer.

The Labour peer also handed £14,000 to Bridget Phillipson, now Education Secretary, so she could 'host a number of events' – shortly before she staged a 40th birthday party.

He also gave Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner the use of a flat in New York worth £1,250 at New Year.

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden defended Sir Keir, saying: 'This is not somebody who thinks that somehow the rules don't apply to them…He is a person of enormous integrity, and that will be reflected in the way that he operates.'