MPs took advantage of more than £ 60,000 in giveaways for COVID testing events – including matches in England | Politics News

MPs have received more than £ 60,000 in giveaways for COVID-19 testing events this summer – including tickets to England matches at Euro 2020.

According to Parliament’s latest interest register, MPs received free tickets to football matches at Wembley, Wimbledon tennis, Royal Ascot and the Brit Awards.

All have been part of the government’s events research agenda, with pilot events being used to assess how large events can be safely hosted as COVID restrictions are relaxed.

So far 13 MPs have signed up for free tickets to Euro 2020 matches, worth a total of over £ 30,000.

These included England’s group game against the Czech Republic, as well as their knockout clashes with Germany and Denmark and the final loss to Italy.

Six MPs enjoyed a free day at Wimbledon worth over £ 6,000, and six MPs also received Royal Ascot tickets worth over £ 9,000.

The Brit Awards in May were also a popular outing for MPs, with 10 MPs receiving free tickets worth £ 8,600 to what was the UK’s first major indoor music event in over a year.

MPs took advantage of their free tickets to government test events from a range of donors including gambling companies, industry groups, Heineken beer, Google, event planners and individual donors.

Among the MPs to register free tickets, Tory backbench MPs Philip Davies and Esther McVey, who tied the knot last year, both attended England’s matches against the Czech Republic and Denmark, a day at Wimbledon and a day at Royal Ascot.

The largest donations on record came from Mr. Davies, Ms. McVey, fellow Conservative MPs Laurence Robertson and Scott Benton, and Toby Perkins of Labor.

All five were donated …