There are four really, really important aspects to this story which a lot of media reporting on this are glossing over:
1. 40% of it is in football tickets. He's an Arsenal season ticket holder, but sensibly, they don't let him sit in the stands, so they give him a hospitality seat instead. He declares it regardless, rightly, but it's only needed because he's a massive political figure with potential risk of attack. The same dynamic is true of events in general, as leader of the opposition, he should be attending events, he's not absolutely loaded unlike a number of recent former PMs
2. If he had been a minister in the government, he wouldn't have had to declare the vast majority of what he's declared as it would have been allowable as part of doing state business. It only needs to be declared because he's in opposition.
3. He's declared everything and nothing has actually been highlighted as a problem, he has been investigated (in 2022) and cleared previously.
4. Holy shitballs the Tories were an absolute disgrace on this front. As an example of one, the prime minister gets £30k to refurbish his accommodation in Downing St. This was not enough for Boris Johnson, he spent £112,549 in 2020 alone, he got Tory donors to pay for it. But didn't declare it because he apparently lost his phone and could no longer remember the specific details when investigated.
Same excuse he and Rishi Sunak made to the Covid enquiry...
I think there's a few bits that are probably a little questionable, the glasses donation isn't great, but the vast, vast majority of it is horseshit.
There's a reason why the shadow culture is number 2 on the list.
This is a pure hatchet job by the press.
bylinetimes.com
www.telegraph.co.uk
