London Mayor Declares Tickets as Part of “Stakeholder Engagement” While Scrutiny Over Free Gifts Intensifies

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has again attracted attention for accepting complimentary tickets to watch his beloved Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. The mayor was gifted two £275 tickets by the Football Association for the Carabao Cup final on March 16, 2025. Unfortunately for Khan, Liverpool was defeated 2-1 by Newcastle in the match.

Khan has declared the tickets in the City Hall register of gifts, explaining that he accepted them as part of “stakeholder engagement” efforts. However, this incident adds to ongoing scrutiny regarding politicians accepting free gifts.

Matthew Pennycook, the Housing and Planning Minister, publicly stated that accepting free tickets for events like concerts is “not appropriate.” He pointed out that he would personally pay for tickets to concerts at The O2, located in his constituency. Pennycook’s remarks come after Chancellor Rachel Reeves was criticised for accepting tickets to a concert by Sabrina Carpenter earlier this year.

While Pennycook emphasised transparency and proper declarations, Khan’s actions have been more controversial. As a lifelong Liverpool fan, Khan has now attended four matches this season using free tickets, including games against Bournemouth, Spurs, and Brentford, all of which ended in victories for Liverpool.

Aside from the football matches, Khan was given a £1,500 ticket for a match between Fulham and Aston Villa in October 2024. This attendance was justified as part of an “official engagement” to visit a sports and hospitality development at Fulham’s new Riverside stand.

The issue of Khan accepting free tickets gained prominence last summer after his attendance at a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley raised questions. In response, Khan stated that all gifts were declared and considered part of his responsibility to promote the capital’s entertainment sector.

City Hall’s watchdog is currently investigating whether Khan showed sufficient caution when accepting £3,000 worth of tickets to a Taylor Swift concert from a company with existing City Hall contracts.

Critics, including Emma Best, the deputy leader of the City Hall Conservatives, have raised concerns about Khan’s actions. Best pointed out that while Khan enjoys luxury perks, the people of London are facing higher council tax, cuts to police services, and crumbling infrastructure.

Despite the criticism, Khan’s supporters argue that the VIP tickets allow him to attend public events while ensuring his safety, given his need for round-the-clock police protection.