Keir Starmer has written to broadcaster TNT Sports asking it to make next weekend’s Champions League final free to view.
The move is the latest measure that appears designed to appeal directly to voters, after the government announced earlier this week that it would cut VAT on entry to some attractions – such as theme parks, zoos and museums – during the school summer holidays.
Starmer, who has a season ticket for recently crowned Premier League champions Arsenal, told TNT Sports on Friday that he was “saddened” that the club’s match with Paris Saint-Germain would not be free to watch for supporters in the UK.
The fixture is due to be played in Budapest next Saturday evening and will mark the first time British viewers will be unable to watch the final free of charge. It will be streamed by TNT Sports on HBO Max, where the cheapest subscription package costs £4.99 per month.
In his letter, Starmer said: “The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football. I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not.
“Obviously, I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years. However, this is bigger than that.
“This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out.
“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude.”
In response, a TNT spokesperson said: “We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”
The prime minister is fighting for his political life after disastrous local election results earlier this month. He is widely expected to face a leadership challenge from Andy Burnham if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the Makerfield byelection next month.
Labour MPs have long feared that the party faces heavy losses should Starmer lead it into the next election amid a sharp increase in support for Reform UK.
Former cabinet minister Liam Byrne said on Saturday that the party was stuck in a “managerial meh” and added: “If we don’t get our shit together pretty quickly, then things are going to go south.”
Byrne, who represents Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, said there had been a realisation within Labour about the rise of populism, and added: “There’s too much at stake if we get this wrong”.
Speaking at Hay literary festival, Byrne said that, while the Greens had “captured hope” and Reform had “captured anger”, Labour had been “left in the middle” in a “sort of managerial meh, without hope or anger, frankly, and to be honest not a terrific clarity of plan either”.
Asked about Andy Burnham’s prospects, Byrne said voters see him as a “fighter”, they “don’t think he’s a kind of crazy egotist”, and they “admire what he’s done in Manchester”.
Byrne said that the public “do feel that their backs are against the wall, and they do want someone who is going to fight for them”. He said he thought Burnham would win the Makerfield contest but would not be drawn on what should happen afterwards.
On Friday, Burnham kicked off his byelection campaign with a thinly veiled pitch for No 10, stating that a vote for him would be “a vote to change Labour”.
