2002 World Cup winners Brazil
If you were offered a free ticket to the World Cup, would you accept it? Especially if it was for England’s opening game in Germany. The chances are you would.
It seems MP Dr Ian Gibson refused his invite from one of the sponsors, junk food supremos McDonald’s, on the grounds that it was not acceptable at a time when political judgements have to be made about what people people should eat.
He said: “I’d love to go to the World Cup, but if I were to go, it would be at my own expense …. if I went to Germany, I think I’d lose the support of people who are real football fans.”
The Lab MP coaches the parliamentary football team and does not believe they should accept any of the 23 tickets offered by McDonald’s to MPs and researchers.
Can an MP accept such a tempting invitation and not feel compromised? Dr Gibson did the right thing in declining as he felt it went against his principles. I would have thought it was ok if you were confident you could still exercise sound judgement, and it was not a wasted “away day”, but enjoyed in their own free time. I wonder if they will they be served beefburgers during half-time? Is there such a thing as a free lunch? I imagine corporate invites are carefully screened to avoid any potentially politcally embarrassing moments.
Sacked Home Secretary Charles Clarke, and Dr Gibson’s neighbouring Norfolk MP, did accept an invitation from another source, I read last week, but has now declined due to his change in circustmances.
