A recent poll revealed a 45-point drop in new Primer Minister Keir Starmer’s approval since July.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray have been swept into the ongoing Labour freebies scandal after it was revealed they accepted hospitality from Salmon Scotland at a Liverpool football match.
The pair were guests at Anfield, where Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 3-0, according to The Times.
Their attendance, hosted by Salmon Scotland, coincides with heightened scrutiny over political gifts accepted by senior Labour figures, including party leader Keir Starmer. The revelations have cast a shadow over the UK Labour conference in Liverpool and have added fuel to the broader controversy surrounding Labour’s relationship with donors.
Annie Wells, the Scottish Conservatives deputy chief whip, told The Times: “This revelation will stick in the throats of many. Scottish Labour would like to brand themselves as the party of change, but they seem to be embroiling themselves in the same calamitous manner as the Labour government.”
A spokesperson for Salmon Scotland told SalmonBusiness:”As the trade body for the UK’s largest food export and employers in every part of Scotland, we regularly invite ministers and politicians from all parties to events so that we can raise issues affecting our sector.”
The wider scandal erupted after it was disclosed that Starmer had accepted more than £100,000 in political gifts, including £16,000 worth of clothing and eyewear for himself and his wife, from Labour peer Waheed Alli.
In the latest YouGov poll, one in seven recent Labour voters expressed regret over their decision, while nearly two-thirds of all voters found Starmer’s acceptance of freebies for his wife unacceptable.
Sarwar and Murray’s link to Salmon Scotland’s hospitality has drawn further criticism, with SNP councillor Ian Gallagher tweeting, “Seems it’s not just #FreeGearKeir, Anas and Ian love a freebie too.” The scandal comes at a time when newly elected Scottish Labour MPs have also been called out for accepting over £1,000 in gifts within weeks of taking office.
The situation adds to the pressure on Starmer, whose approval ratings have taken a sharp dive. A recent Opinium poll revealed a 45-point drop in Starmer’s approval since July, with nearly half of the public now holding a more negative view of him and his party. His rating has fallen below that of Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, marking a significant downturn for the Labour government.
As Starmer scrambles to draw a line under the scandal, critics—including SNP MP Dave Doogan—have slammed Labour’s acceptance of gifts, calling it “totally indefensible” and questioning what donors might expect in return. With Salmon Scotland’s role in the hospitality now under the spotlight, the connection between political leaders and industry lobby groups is becoming an increasingly contentious issue.
