Nigel Adams MP accepted £6,000 worth of free hospitality tickets to England’s Euro 2020 games, according to the latest MPs register of financial interests.
Mr Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, which includes some rural parts of the Harrogate district such as Spofforth and Follifoot, received tickets to three games at Wembley Stadium.
He received a total of £6,038 worth of tickets from three separate companies, including two gambling and betting firms.
He watched England’s semi-final victory over Denmark, which was valued at £3,457 and paid for by Entain, a gambling company based in London whose brands include Coral, Ladbrokes, PartyPoker, and Sportingbet..
Power Leisure Bookmakers, whose brands include Paddy Power and Betfair, paid for Mr Adams to attend the round of 16 game against Germany. The value of the donation was £1,961, according to the register of interest.
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The Conservative Minister for Asia posted a video from the game on his Twitter feed.
YAAAAAASSSSSSSS 🏴🏴🏴⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Z6Hii6uiWL
— Nigel Adams (@nadams) July 7, 2021
Heineken UK, whose Tadcaster brewery is in Mr Adams’ constituency, invited the MP to attend the final between England and Italy — a gift worth £620.
The Stray Ferret approached Mr Adams for comment on the hospitality tickets but did not receive a response.
Gambling Act review
MPs have come under scrutiny for accepting tickets from gambling companies to attend games at this year’s tournament.
Seven Conservative MPs and two members of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s front bench accepted hospitality tickets to games involving England.
Former Conservative minister Esther McVey and Labour’s shadow skills minister, Toby Perkins, were among those who took tickets.
It comes as the government is currently undertaking a review of the Gambling Act to consider stricter rules on advertising.
