A government minister has said Sir Keir Starmer accepting more freebies than any other MP “is not important at all”.
Jess Phillips said she was “satisfied” with the prime minister’s explanation it would “cost the taxpayer a fortune” in security if he watched Arsenal from the stands after it emerged he has accepted thousands of pounds worth of free football tickets.
The prime minister has faced criticism after Sky News’ Westminster Accounts project revealed he had received two-and-a-half times more gifts and hospitality than any other MP, totalling £107,145, since December 2019.
He has declared £12,588 in gifts from the Premier League, including numerous tickets for Arsenal matches totalling more than £6,000.
But Ms Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, told Sky News: “I don’t think it’s important at all.”
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She added: “I think you have to consider how people in the country feel about things.
“I have to say, nobody has mentioned it to me. I haven’t had a single email about it.
“I have had lots of emails about people not being able to get on a housing list.
“And so I’d really, really much rather focus on that and for Keir Starmer to focus on getting house building going.”
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Sir Keir Starmer in the stands ahead of the Manchester United v Arsenal match at Old Trafford in May. Pic: PA
The government has also been embroiled in a row this week over Sir Keir’s top adviser, Sue Gray, being paid more than the prime minister.
A leak to the BBC revealed Ms Gray, who led the “partygate” inquiry into Boris Johnson’s government, is paid £170,000, which is a higher salary than the prime minister’s £167,000.
However, Ms Phillips denied it means Sir Keir does not have a handle on how things are running inside Number 10.
She said: “All I can say is from my bit of government is that it’s running quite smoothly in that we have been in government for 11 weeks and just even in the bit of work that I work in, we have changed more, put more in train than was done in 10 years [under the Conservatives].”
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Sue Gray ‘on right pay for job’ despite earning more than PM
Starmer trying to justify freebies is ‘making it worse’
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‘There’s a problem with leaking’
Ms Phillips admitted it “does seem like there is a problem with leaking” but added: “Hasn’t that always been the case?”
Sir Keir has insisted he is “completely in control” when asked why Ms Gray gets paid more than him.
Former Labour MP Harriet Harman, now a peer and co-host of Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, said Ms Gray’s salary is “the rate for the job”.
The baroness said Ms Gray is an “incredibly able person” and added the cabinet secretary earns £200,000 while the person running Manchester City Council earns £220,000.