Council head criticised over free football tickets

A local authority leader has come under fire for accepting two free football season tickets and concert passes.

Council documents published on Tuesday reveal Sunderland City Council boss Michael Mordey was given Sunderland AFC tickets and passes for a Bruce Springsteen show in May.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Edgeworth called the gifts "beyond belief".

Sunderland Labour Group said all donations had been declared in accordance with council rules.

Liberal democrat leader Ed Davey, alongside five Labour MPs, accepted tickets to watch Taylor Swift perform in London.

Asked to comment on the difference between his leader accepting tickets, and the city council boss doing so, Edgeworth said it was "not Ed Davey who is cutting council services".

Davey was not "hiking council tax for hard-pressed people in our city who have to work hard to afford to go to gigs and football matches", Edgeworth said.

"It is Labour councillors here in Sunderland."

He said Sunderland's Liberal Democrat councillors did not accept "perks" or "freebies".

Mordey was elected to the council's leader position in May.

He also declared two free boardroom tickets at the Stadium of Light for Sunderland's match against Burnley in August.

A number of senior Labour figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner, have recently received criticism over high-value donations.

The government announced last week it would tighten transparency rules for ministerial hospitality.

Councillors are required to declare gifts and hospitality over a certain value, which varies between authorities.

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].