Labour were engulfed in a ‘cash for croissants’ row last night after it emerged that the party was selling £30,000 tickets for breakfast with the Business Secretary.
Business leaders were offered the ‘rare chance to gain insights, network and exchange ideas’ among peers and Jonathan Reynolds at an exclusive event at the Ivy restaurant in Manchester.
The Scottish National Party have demanded a probe into what they called the ‘growing stench of sleaze’ in Sir Keir Starmer‘s government amid his party’s freebie row.
SNP Cabinet Office spokesman Brendan O’Hara said: ‘People expect transparency and accountability — and that is why a full inquiry into the Labour government cash for access scandal is required.’
Labour’s pitch — first reported by The Sun — offered bosses a photograph with Mr Reynolds at a cost of £15,000, or £30,000 for a ‘dynamic meeting of business minds’.
Labour were engulfed in another cash scandal after it emerged the party was selling £30,000 tickets for breakfast with the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, pictured
Shadow minister Andrew Griffiths warned: ‘Labour has been in office for less than 100 days but we can already add “cash for croissants” to “passes for glasses” in the growing list of scandals engulfing this government’
The invitation was circulated to businesses by Liam Didsbury, who until recently was the Labour’s North West director.
But party officials now say the breakfast is no longer going ahead.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband claimed Mr Reynolds was ‘unaware’ of the event, but warned his colleagues that ‘paying to have access’ was ‘not what we are about’.
‘Don’t do it again, is my message,’ he said.
‘Jonathan Reynolds was completely unaware of this. It shouldn’t have happened. It won’t happen again. You know, I’m sure lessons will be learned.’
He later confirmed the incident will be ‘properly dealt with’.
However, Mr Miliband suggested he would be prepared to eat bacon sandwiches at an event if all the money went to charity.
Referring to the infamous 2014 image of him messily devouring one, he said: ‘Yes. But not on camera.’
The incident has put further focus on Labour’s freebie scandal, which has seen Sir Keir and his frontbench team accept thousands worth of gifts and hospitality.
The party has faced weeks of ‘cash for access’ allegations after the PM was revealed to have received tens of thousands worth of freebies from Lord Alli.
The peer was forced to return a Downing Street access card given to him after he donated suits and glasses to Sir Keir.
Ed Miliband claimed Mr Reynolds was ‘unaware’ of the event, but warned his colleagues that ‘paying to have access’ was ‘not what we are about’
Sir Keir has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts — including Taylor Swift tickets — in a bid to move on from his donations row.
The PM also stayed in the businessman’s luxury penthouse in Covent Garden during the general election campaign.
Earlier this week, it emerged the media entrepreneur was under investigation by the Lords standards watchdog over allegedly failing to register interests.
Mr Reynolds has accepted tickets from Google worth more than £3,000 for Glastonbury last year, when the party was in opposition.
Shadow minister Andrew Griffiths warned: ‘This is a clear offer to bend the Business Secretary’s ear over government policy.’
He added: ‘There are proper channels through which businesses can engage with the government on policy matters but this is something completely different and won’t appear in any public record.
‘Labour has been in office for less than 100 days but we can already add “cash for croissants” to “passes for glasses” in the growing list of scandals engulfing this government.’
A Labour spokesman said: ‘The Business Secretary isn’t involved in this, was completely unaware, and isn’t attending.’
