The Greenwich & Woolwich MP Matt Pennycook has said he would not accept free tickets to concerts, two days after the chancellor Rachel Reeves was criticised for taking free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter show at the O2.
Pennycook, who is the minister for planning, was quizzed by LBC breakfast show host Nick Ferrari about the row, which erupted after Reeves appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg at the weekend.
The chancellor said she used the corporate box with a family member, adding: “I do now have security which means it’s not as easy as it would have been in the past to just sit in a concert, although that would probably be a lot easier for everyone concerned”.
Pennycook was asked by Ferrari how many times he had taken tickets for shows at the O2, which is in his constituency.
“Zero,” he said.
Pressed by Ferrari on whether he thought it was appropriate for Reeves to accept the tickets, Pennycook said he thought it was “a decision for individual MPs”.
Ferrari suggested that it would be appropriate for Pennycook to attend a show there as many of his constituents worked there, then asked again why Reeves would go.
“I don’t personally think it’s appropriate,” Pennycook said. “If I want to go to a concert at the O2 I’ll pay for it – but individual MPs, individual ministers, make their own decisions.
“I think that the important thing is that everything is declared and above board, so individual people can make their choices as to whether they think it’s appropriate to take tickets on occasions.
“I personally haven’t done, as I said, at the O2, and wouldn’t do.”
Allies of Pennycook later told LBC that his comments related to his role as the O2’s constituency MP and should not be interpreted as a criticism of anyone else.
His comments came five months after Greenwich Council leader Anthony Okereke was criticised for accepting free tickets to last year’s Brit Awards at the same venue. The tickets were offered by a developer that part-owns the O2, Crosstree, which has recently been given permission to build a tower block next to the venue.
Sir Alistair Graham, who was the government’s ethics watchdog under Tony Blair, said in October that it was “just not acceptable” because it opened Okereke up to accusations of a conflict of interest.
But Okereke said he would accept free tickets again, suggesting that Graham had little understanding of local government, He said there would be no conflict of interest as he did not sit on licensing or planning committees.
Pennycook was on LBC to discuss the government’s announcement of a £2 billion investment in building social and “affordable” housing, which would deliver up to 18,000 new homes. London will get 20 per cent of the money, City Hall has said.
“It’s the limit to what we’re investing, it’s a downpayment on future investment,” Pennycook told LBC.
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