Politicians have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in freebies from Manchester City and its UAE owners, according to an investigation by The Sun. Manchester City handed out gifts worth £25,000 to politicians from all parties from October 2014 to May 2025. Meanwhile, the UAE has spent more than £467,000 on hospitality for MPs from all parties over an extended period, with Labour the biggest recipient.
Investigation after financial rules verdict
The revelations come after City were found guilty of breaking financial rules using 'sham contracts' to disguise secret funding of more than £830million. City have lodged an appeal.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said he was 'really concerned' City's owners could pull investments in Britain after the verdict, a comment that caused outrage among City's rivals. He later said it was 'important to separate the football issues from wider investment'.
Hospitality for Labour figures
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell, whose Manchester Central constituency includes City's Etihad stadium, has received hospitality at matches worth £2,360. Other Labour figures to receive hospitality from City include Stretford and Urmston MP Andrew Western, Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith and former PM Sir Keir Starmer.
Since 2012, the UAE has spent almost half-a-million pounds on freebies for MPs of all parties. Some 78 separate entries in the MPs' Register of Interests show a total of £467,000 was accepted from the Gulf state, with Labour MPs taking £275,000 of freebies, the Tories £175,000, the SNP £15,000, the Lib Dems £3,500 and Reform UK £1,000. The freebies, mainly including free flights and hospitality, came from bodies including the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of the UAE and the Abu Dhabi Education Council.
Close ties and concerns
Mr Burnham was known for forging close ties with the UAE in his time as mayor of Greater Manchester. He spoke to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE president and brother of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, days after becoming PM. And Mr Burnham's Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, met City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak at No.10 shortly before the guilty verdict was announced.
Some Premier League clubs were reported to be 'concerned' by how Mr Burnham's comments after the Manchester City verdict could affect the appeal process.
The close links between MPs and the UAE were criticised by William Yarwood of TaxPayers' Alliance, who said: 'Taxpayers will be concerned to hear that politicians are receiving gifts that may lead to conflicts of interest. Against the backdrop of ongoing scrutiny of UAE-backed Manchester City, politicians dining at the club's expense raises serious questions about foreign influence and transparency. Politicians who are elected to serve taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of integrity and avoid any conflicts of interest.'
