Poll shows public’s opinion of politicians accepting Taylor Swift tickets and clothes
Two-thirds of voters believe it is unacceptable for politicians to accept Taylor Swift tickets as donations, a poll has found.
Several Cabinet members accepted tickets to the pop singer’s Eras Tour, including the Prime Minister, Bridget Phillipson, Lisa Nandy and Darren Jones.
However, as a row over freebies engulfs the Labour Party, a Savanta poll commissioned by The Telegraph found that most people disapproved of such donations.
The survey asked 2,050 adults to say whether they found certain types of donations acceptable or unacceptable.
The most unpopular was “financial donations towards overseas travel and holidays”, with 70 per cent agreeing it was unacceptable. Only 22 per cent believed politicians accepting such donations was acceptable.
It comes after Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, admitted staying in Labour donor Lord Alli’s New York flat for five nights over the new year – a gift she said was worth £1,250.
The poll also found that a majority of Labour voters (64 per cent) were opposed to freebies on foreign holidays, with only 30 per cent believing it was acceptable.
However, the survey suggested the party’s supporters were more prepared to tolerate Sir Keir’s decision to accept free clothes. Some 47 per cent of Labour voters said it was acceptable, while 45 per cent disagreed.
The second most unpopular type among all voters was “financial donations towards renovating a flat inside Downing Street”, with 26 per cent in favour and 66 per cent against.
In 2021, Boris Johnson was accused of seeking undeclared donations to buy wallpaper and other improvements for his prime ministerial flat.
“Financial donations towards clothing to be worn in the public eye” was the third most unpopular, with a similar 29 per cent to 63 per cent split among the poll’s respondents.
Meanwhile, 60 per cent said they agreed that “hospitality tickets to a famous musician’s concert, for example Taylor Swift, Coldplay or the Proms” was unacceptable, while 32 per cent said it could be acceptable.
More than a third – 35 per cent – believed it was acceptable to take hospitality tickets for a big sporting event such as the FA Cup Final, the British Grand Prix or a Wimbledon tennis final. Some 57 per cent said it was unacceptable.
Labour voters surveyed were more likely to tolerate such donations.
Half of the party’s supporters thought taking Taylor Swift tickets was acceptable, compared to 44 per cent who did not.
In contrast, 69 per cent of Conservative voters said it was unacceptable, compared to 29 per cent who said it was.
However, when it came to renovating a Downing Street flat – as in the controversy surrounding Mr Johnson – the situation was reversed, with 58 per cent of Labour voters saying it was unacceptable compared to only 35 per cent who thought it was acceptable.
