Freebie fanatic £100,000 worth of goodies is just “part of the job”, a senior Labour minister has claimed. Jonathan Reynolds insisted the Prime Minister’s free outings at Arsenal football matches and Taylor Swift concerts are “not a perk”. The Business Secretary said he has “no problem” with politicians getting a “chance for a little bit of relaxation” while running the country.
The PM, who has received more gifts and hospitality than any other party leader in recent history, has been dubbed “the king of the freebies” by critics. But the minister said: “It’s not a perk of the job, it’s part of the job. People want to engage with decision-makers.
They want to ask you to be aware of what they are doing. Again, I think we have the right rules on transparency in relation to that. “But this is about the job that we do and the need to be engaged with the sectors that we cover.
” The Labour MP claimed he had spent “pretty much every hour” working since becoming a minister in July. He said: “If people get the chance for a little bit of relaxation as part of that, again, I’ve no problem or objection to that. But voters are overwhelmingly opposed to MPs - who earn £91,346 - accepting freebies, a poll by More in Common found.
And just 7% think it is acceptable to take donations for senior ministers’ clothing, while only 8% say donations of hospitality to politicians are acceptable. Avid Arsenal fan Sir Keir has defended accepting hospitality, i.