Amid the media’s renewed interest in Starmer’s freebie-taking, ITV’s Political Editor Robert Peston thought he’d have a go. Yesterday’s afternoon exclusive on the ITV website declared: “Starmer gifted use of a hospitality box by Arsenal football club”, revealing that the club is providing an entire “corporate box for him, his family and his protection officers.” Quite the story when it comes to the freebie-mad PM…

By this morning Peston has been forced to put out an update stating that “the club is keen for the world to know there is no formal arrangement with the PM.” The club has shot down the story – Peston pondered that this was “a funny thing”…

Here is a funny thing. I am slightly struck, via Arsenal sources, that the club is keen for the world to know there is no formal arrangement with the PM! Not that I said there was. I did not say Arsenal “gifted” the minister permanent use of a specific box for his exclusive use… https://t.co/Fz2yIeFBLq

— Robert Peston (@Peston) September 19, 2024

Peston goes on to claim that he “did not say Arsenal ‘gifted’ the minister permanent use of a specific box” and there was “no suggestion of that.” The headline itself begs to differ, as does the line that the PM has literally been “given the use of a corporate box by Arsenal football club.” Oh well, never mind…