Sir Keir Starmer has written to TNT Sports requesting that next weekend's Champions League final be made available free of charge. The match between Arsenal, the club where the Prime Minister holds a season ticket, and Paris Saint-Germain is set to take place in Budapest on Saturday evening. It will be the first time British viewers have been unable to watch the final without a subscription, as the broadcast will be streamed on HBO Max for a minimum of £4.99 per month.
In his letter, Starmer expressed sadness that Arsenal's first Champions League final appearance in 20 years would not be accessible to all supporters. He argued that the final should remain free to view regardless of which teams are playing, stating that hard-working people should not have to worry about paying for a subscription to watch a match of such magnitude. He also highlighted the tradition of fans gathering in living rooms and pubs across the country to watch Europe's elite clubs compete.
A spokesperson for TNT Sports responded by noting that all three UEFA finals this year had been made available from £4.99, which they described as exceptional value. The subscription also includes other entertainment content on the HBO Max service.
The request comes amid significant political pressure on Starmer following poor local election results earlier this month. He is widely expected to face a leadership challenge from Andy Burnham if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the upcoming Makerfield byelection. Labour MPs have expressed concerns about heavy losses at the next general election amid rising support for Reform UK.
Former cabinet minister Liam Byrne said on Saturday that Labour was stuck in a 'managerial meh' and needed to change its approach quickly. Speaking at the Hay literary festival, Byrne argued that while the Greens had captured hope and Reform had captured anger, Labour had been left in the middle without a clear plan. He also suggested that voters viewed Burnham as a fighter and admired his work in Manchester, predicting he would win the Makerfield contest.
