Tom Tugendhat has insisted it is “important to be transparent” after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer has received substantially more freebies than any other MP since becoming Labour leader.
The Conservative leadership hopeful said the £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality received by the prime minister since December 2019 “does raise some questions”.
The prime minister received two-and-a-half times more gifts and hospitality than the next MP, according to a league table compiled as part of Sky News’ Westminster Accounts project – which traces how money flows through our political system.
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The next highest in the league table is the Commons leader Lucy Powell on £40,289, while the PM received gifts roughly equivalent to the next five MPs combined.
Mr Tugendhat, who is one of four candidates vying to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader, admitted MPs are offered a lot of gifts and free tickets, but “a lot of us decline politely”.
He told the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge: “I’ve been invited to many different events amidst different moments. And you know, you’ve got to make a decision. Does it look right? Does it smell right? Pass the sniff test, frankly.
“To be number one in that ranking does raise some questions.”
Asked if Sir Keir’s declarations pass the sniff test, Mr Tugendhat reiterated that the large number “raises questions”.
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The Conservative leadership candidate also stressed the need to be “transparent”, while stressing “it seems like” Sir Keir is “reporting things properly”.
He said: “The question is, why are people offering him so many freebies?”
My Tugendhat, the former security minister, is one of four hopefuls remaining in the race to replace Mr Sunak.
The other candidates are Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and James Cleverly.
Mel Stride was knocked out of the contest in the last round of voting, with Mr Jenrick coming out on top with 33 votes, followed by ex-business secretary Ms Badenoch with 28.
Both the former home secretary Mr Cleverly and Mr Tugendhat received 21 votes each.