Sunderland's Labour Council Leader urged to refuse any more freebies as ‘shameful’ perks list published

The Labour leader of Sunderland City Council is being asked to ‘do the decent thing’ and stop taking freebies and donations after it was revealed yesterday (1st October) that he took a donation of 2 SAFC season tickets, as well as freebies for gigs, football matches and hospitality.

Sunderland City Council’s Labour leadership are being asked to stop taking freebies and perks after being caught up in the party’s donations scandal.

A declaration of councillors’ interests published yesterday (1st October) reveals that Leader of the Council Michael Mordey has taken freebies including:

• A donation of two Sunderland AFC season tickets for the 2024/25 season
• Free Stadium of Light concert tickets for Bruce Springsteen

Members of the Council’s ruling cabinet also claimed freebies and took perks, including:

• Alison Smith (Cabinet Member for Resources) who took SAFC tickets and hospitality on 18 occasions; as well as free tickets to Elton John and Ed Sheeran concerts in the city.
• Kevin Johnston (Cabinet Member for Housing & Regeneration) who took free tickets to the Sunderland vs Wycombe play off final in 2022.

Wearside’s opposition Liberal Democrats - whose councillors have always refused to take the likes of free meals and theatre tickets as well as refusing to claim expenses - have called on ruling Labour councillors to ‘do the decent thing’ and publicly commit to stop taking freebies and perks.

The news comes on the back of senior figures in the Government, including the Prime Minister and Houghton & Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson, taking large donations and free tickets to gigs.

Commenting, Lib Dem councillor for Grindon and Thorney Close Stephen O’Brien said:

“It is a disgrace that the Leader of the Council has been caught up in Labour’s shameful donations scandal. He must now do the decent thing, apologise and commit to stop taking freebies and perks.

“The Leader of the Council takes at least £47,879 a year in councillor allowances from local taxpayers – the least he can do is pay for his season ticket and gig tickets just like everyone else in Sunderland has to do if they want to go to the match or a Stadium of Light concert.

“Just because Michael Mordey does whatever Keir Starmer tells him to say and do, it doesn’t mean he has to follow the Prime Minister’s example of accepting indefensible donations and freebies.”