Have your say! Should politicians be allowed to accept gifts?

A row over freebies and hospitality has overshadowed government business

A row over freebies and hospitality for politicians has overshadowed government business and party conference season. Figures from the MPs register of interests, which records financial interests and gifts "which someone else might reasonably consider to influence what they say or do as an MP", show that over £700,000 has been handed to politicians in the past year.

Have your say! Should politicians be allowed to receive gifts at all? Would you rewrite the rules - or is it a lot of noise over nothing for you? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under the spotlight for his entries in the register, topping £65,000 worth of gifts including clothes, glasses and accommodation. Free tickets to in-demand events such as popstar Taylor Swift's tour of the UK have also been recorded for Starmer and education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

The Premier League and its football clubs have been one of the largest gift-givers of the past year, handing out nearly £100,000 worth of tickets and hospitality. Starmer has received several thousands of pounds worth of corporate box tickets from Arsenal, which he has defended on the grounds of his security at the stadium.

The Conservatives have been critical of Labour's activity in the register over the past week, but the Tories actually clocked up more than their rivals - 141 Tory MPs received £359,891 in gifts, such as clay pigeon shooting trips, helicopter rides and free tickets to events. 118 Labour MPs recorded £298,151 in gifts over the same period.

These gifts to individual MPs are considered separate from donations to a political party and have long been controversial. Registering these interests is supposed to provide clarity on the motivations behind a particular MP's words in parliament, or the way that they vote. It can shine a light on a politician's inner circle, or who is trying to cosy up to people in power.

Current critics say it's a bad look for the new government to be accepting thousands of pounds worth of freebies while telling the country to expect financial pain in the immediate future. The row over the winter fuel allowance cuts and other "doom-and-gloom" announcements contrast with the sight of an MP getting tickets to an otherwise sold-out event.

Have your say! Should politicians be allowed to receive gifts at all? Would you rewrite the rules - or is it a lot of noise over nothing for you? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.