Former Manchester United footballer and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has come to the defence of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer amid criticism over accepting football freebies worth £12,588. Starmer has been under fire from Tory MPs for receiving gifts from the Premier League, including over £6,000 in tickets for Arsenal matches.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Neville dismissed the controversy, calling the scrutiny “bizarre” and insisting that Starmer has done nothing wrong. “I’m startled at the amount of scrutiny this has received,” Neville told Sky News. “It’s well out of proportion.”
Neville, a long-time Labour supporter, highlighted that Starmer has been an Arsenal season ticket holder for years and regularly attends games with his family. “Everybody has known that Keir Starmer, with his family, has gone and watched Arsenal. He has paid for season tickets for decades. It’s one of his main releases every single week,” he said.
The criticism arose because, as prime minister, Starmer can no longer sit in his regular seats due to security concerns and is instead directed to a hospitality box. “The idea that he’s paid for those tickets for years is absolutely right. But he’s now being told by security detail he can’t sit in those same seats,” Neville explained. “Why would we have a problem with that?”
Neville also drew comparisons to the conduct of Conservative politicians, pointing out the lack of similar scrutiny over past actions, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s use of a £40m helicopter contract and the controversial VIP lanes for suppliers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “That didn’t get anywhere near the same level of scrutiny, it’s just bizarre to me,” he added.
Neville’s comments come as Starmer faces growing scrutiny over his acceptance of gifts while the UK faces financial challenges, with some critics questioning the optics of the prime minister enjoying such perks during a cost-of-living crisis.
Alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Neville was attending the Labour conference to promote the regeneration of Old Trafford stadium, home to Manchester United. The pair emphasised that no public money should be used for the stadium itself, but they supported investment in the surrounding area to boost the local economy and improve infrastructure.
Neville noted, “We’re talking about an opportunity that could regenerate the area in Trafford, in Greater Manchester, but also correct what would be a struggling transport network in the north of England.”
Burnham echoed his sentiments, promising significant benefits for the community. “They can expect one of, if not the best, stadiums in the world. But around that, residents can expect better community facilities and many thousands of jobs,” Burnham said.
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