London Mayor under scrutiny for accepting free tickets from a City Hall contractor.
The City Hall watchdog has initiated an investigation into Mayor Sadiq Khan after he accepted £3,000 worth of complimentary tickets to a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium in August 2023. The tickets, provided by LS Events, a contractor for City Hall, allowed Sir Sadiq and his family to attend the pop star’s performance.
Sir Sadiq received six tickets, each valued at £500, but their late declaration and initial undervaluation on the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) gifts register have raised concerns. Tory London Assembly member Susan Hall requested the investigation, questioning whether the mayor adhered to GLA rules regarding gifts and hospitality.
While three allegations, including the tickets’ late declaration, were dismissed, the monitoring officer is investigating whether the mayor exercised adequate caution before accepting them. A GLA spokesperson confirmed, “An investigation will now take place to establish if the mayor acted appropriately.”
Ms Hall expressed disappointment over the dismissal of other claims, including concerns about the donor being a GLA contractor and the initial undervaluation of the tickets. “More answers are desperately needed,” she said.
Sir Sadiq’s office attributed the late declaration and undervaluation to an administrative error and stated the mayor had no role in procurement processes for GLA contracts. “The mayor’s office remains committed to transparency and looks forward to clarifying this matter,” a spokesperson said.
The tickets were declared on September 22, ten days after the 28-day deadline. The investigation revealed they were gifted after LS Events had bid for a contract, not during active procurement, and Sir Sadiq was uninvolved in tendering decisions.
This incident highlights broader concerns about the handling of gifts within City Hall. Of the 22 tickets distributed for Taylor Swift’s Wembley concerts, 10 recipients remain unnamed, as they were either family members or junior staff whose gift declarations are not publicly required.
Sir Sadiq initially planned to attend an earlier concert in June, with tickets from the Football Association, but had to cancel. The tickets he ultimately used in August were from LS Events and provided access to a private box shared with other attendees, including City Hall officials.
The investigation continues, focusing on whether the mayor upheld appropriate standards in accepting the tickets.