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FALLING FOR FREEBIES

Commons Speaker John Bercow accepted £1,750 of free football and tennis tickets in just ONE WEEK

Last month the Parliament boss accepted two tickets to see his beloved Arsenal draw with Man United at Old Trafford, and six pairs of tickets to the ATP World Tour tennis finals

John Bercow

COMMONS Speaker John Bercow accepted £1,750 of sports freebies in just ONE WEEK, The Sun can reveal.

Last month the Parliament boss accepted two tickets to see his beloved Arsenal draw with Man United at Old Trafford worth £810.

 The sport-mad Commons boss regularly accepts free tickets to matches
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The sport-mad Commons boss regularly accepts free tickets to matchesCredit: Alamy

In the same week the ex-Tory MP also accepted six pairs of tickets ATP World Tour tennis finals - donated by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

The £939 gift came just days after John Bercow had mentioned the ATP from the Commons chair.

He told MPs on 7 November: “Before we get under way with proceedings I’m sure that the whole House will wish to join me in offering our warmest congratulations to Andy Murray on becoming the men’s singles world number one, the first British man to do so since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973.

“It is, I think, a tribute to his talent, to his big match temperament and to his tireless endeavour over many years.”

 Speaker Bercow catching some of Wimbledon back in 2009
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Speaker Bercow catching some of Wimbledon back in 2009Credit: Getty Images - WireImage

The latest tickets revealed by Commons watchdogs, came on top of the staggering £40,000 worth of the VIP freebies Mr Bercow has claimed since in the last three years.

Tennis accounts for 23 of 39 his freebies since June 2013.

Speaker Bercow is a keen observer of the sport and confessed last year that he watched Roger Federer play on 65 occasions.

His spokesman told The Sun: “It is no secret that Mr Bercow is a football fan and watches matches live whenever he has the opportunity.”

They added: “Any hospitality received is declared in full to the Registrar of Members’ Interests, in accordance with the rules.”

Mr Bercow enjoys a £150,236 taxpayer funded salary, which is more than the PM is paid, and has a grace and favour pad in the Palace of Westminster.

One MP who did not wish to be named said: “he seems to be enjoying the trappings of power more and more.”

 Earlier today he was moved to tears by an MPs speech tne Commons where she recounted her story of rape
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Earlier today he was moved to tears by an MPs speech tne Commons where she recounted her story of rapeCredit: PA:Press Association