Qatar government have spent $450,000 on gifts for British MPs in the last year

Qatar has spent £251,208 (AU$453,798) on gifts and trips for British MPs over the past year ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup.

In an analysis by the Observer as reported by The Guardian, the Gulf state’s efforts in winning over British parliamentary members increased significantly over the past 12 months.

From October 2021 to October 2022 the value of Qatar’s gifts was far greater than any other country’s government that made donations to British MPs.

Ionel Sorin Furcoi / Alamy

The United Arab Emirates was the second-highest government donor to the British members, spending £37,661 (AU$68,033).

Members of parliament were lavished with luxury hotel stays, business class flights and tickets to horse-racing events.

According to The Guardian, over the five years preceding October 2021 MPs had declared around £100,000 (AU$180,650) in gifts from the Qatari government.

The past 12 months saw them receive more than double that in gifts and trips from the country that is set to host the FIFA World Cup.

The records, as seen by the Observer, show that 34 MPs declared 40 donations from Qatar in the past 12 months.

Of those, 22 MPs were conservative, seven were Labour, three were SNP, and two were independent.

The Guardian claims that many of the MPs who received donations later appeared to speak favourably about Qatar in parliamentary debates and play down humanitarian issues the country was facing.

Transparency International called the investigation ‘extremely concerning’ and that MPs accepting ‘thousands of pounds worth of hospitality from foreign governments with questionable human rights records’ could ‘ leave the door open to undue influence’.

imageBROKER / Alamy

The report claims that during two trips in October 2021 and February 2022, British MPs travelled to the middle eastern state to discuss issues such as preparation for the World Cup, worker's rights, and bilateral relations.

A source told the Observer that on those trips MPs were put up in luxury hotels, and even taken to a camel-racing event.

The host nation of the 2022 edition of the World Cup has faced stark criticism over their poor record on migrant workers and same-sex relationships.

Last week the Socceroos became the first FIFA World Cup team to put out a statement in protest against Qatar’s human rights record.

Additionally, other countries have planned protests throughout the month.

Denmark will wear single-colour jerseys to ensure any commercial activity or travel that promotes Qatar is minimised.

Meanwhile, nine European countries will wear ‘One Love’ armbands to protest the Middle Eastern country’s same-sex laws.

SPORTbible has reached out to the Qatar government for comment.