UK politicians receive substantial gifts from Manchester City and UAE

Investigations have revealed that British politicians have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in hospitality and gifts from Manchester City and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Records indicate that the UAE has provided approximately £467,000 in hospitality to MPs across all political parties since 2012, with Labour MPs receiving roughly £273,000 to £275,000 of that total. Additionally, Manchester City has provided over £25,000 in gifts to politicians from all parties between October 2014 and May 2025.

Notable recipients include Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, who accepted hospitality at matches worth £2,360, and MP Andrew Western. The revelations follow a ruling that Manchester City breached financial regulations through the use of ‘sham contracts’ to disguise funding, a verdict the club is currently appealing.

Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, expressed concern regarding the potential loss of investment from the club’s owners following the verdict, though he later stated it was “important to separate the football issues from wider investment.”