Labour MPs Received Nearly £300,000 in Freebies from UAE and Man City

Labour politicians have received close to £300,000 in freebies, including tickets, hospitality, and foreign trips, from Manchester City and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These disclosures emerged as it became known that Andy Burnham, then Mayor of Manchester, personally oversaw a £55 million taxpayer loan to the Arab state. The freebies were declared in the MPs' Register of Interests.

Thousands of pounds worth of VIP seats for matches went to MPs with a Manchester connection. Among them was Labour's deputy leader, Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, which covers the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City. Over an 11-month period, she received free tickets to five matches valued at £2,360, including a £849 VIP ticket to a match between Manchester City and Newcastle in March 2024.

Andrew Western, Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston and a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, accepted hospitality for four matches, including two VIP tickets for the Community Shield at Wembley in August 2024, worth £880. Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith also received VIP tickets to Manchester City games, including a ticket to the FA Cup final against Manchester United valued at £1,798.

Even Sir Keir Starmer, former leader of the Labour Party, accepted a UAE-funded ticket worth £900 to watch Arsenal play Manchester City in March 2024.

According to an investigation by The Sun, government ministries, royal offices, and state-funded bodies in the UAE have spent over £467,000 funding UK politicians since 2012. Labour MPs accounted for 28 entries from 25 MPs, while Conservative MPs had 43 entries from 38 MPs, totaling £174,133. The SNP, Liberal Democrats, and Reform also received donations. Donors included the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Since October 2014, Manchester City has provided handouts worth over £25,000 to politicians across all parties.

Taxpayer Loan Oversight

Questions have also been raised about Andy Burnham's role in approving a £55 million loan from the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loan Fund (GMHILF) to property companies ultimately controlled by Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City and a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Burnham chaired two meetings in 2017 when the funding was approved. The GMHILF, a £300 million fund, was intended to support housing projects that would otherwise struggle to secure financing.

All three loans approved went to companies ultimately owned by Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), Sheikh Mansour's investment vehicle. Two loans, totaling over £30 million, were granted to New Little Mill Developments Ltd and Vesta Street Developments Ltd. Research indicates that ADUG was also the ultimate beneficiary of a third company, Lampwick Developments Ltd, which received a £24.5 million loan from the GMCA.

These funds were earmarked for building apartments in Manchester. Commentators have questioned why a substantial portion of the fund was lent to Sheikh Mansour, whose wealth is estimated at £23 billion, especially when the fund was intended for projects facing difficulties. The terms of these specific loans have not been made public, though ADUG has since repaid the loans with interest.

Manchester City denies wrongdoing and is appealing against financial fraud charges. The UAE has previously threatened to withdraw from UK investment projects in response to legal actions against the club.