Keir Starmer's Norwich City visit in directors' box was 'gift' from club

Sir Keir Starmer was spotted sitting next to the former shadow chancellor Ed Balls in the Director's Box at Carrow Road

Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Carrow Road to cheer on Norwich City was a gift from the club worth hundreds of pounds, government papers have revealed.

The Labour leader was spotted in the directors' box during the Canaries' match against Sunderland earlier this month.

He was sitting next to the former politician, Ed Balls.

The visit was in his register of financial interests valued at £820, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A spokesman for Norwich City Football Club said that Sir Keir, who is an Arsenal fan, was attending the game as a guest of Mr Balls, a vice president and ambassador of the club.

Although Norwich won, the football fans experienced tense moments

The club spokesman added that tickets and entry to the directors' lounge and box were not available to purchase and that entry to those areas on match day was by "invite only".

But 'Carrow Road Experience' tickets - which include a pre-match tour, three-course meal and exclusive seats - can cost between £900 and £960.

Delia Smith, the club's minority shareholder, has been a prominent supporter of the Labour party

Delia Smith, the Canaries' joint minority shareholder, has been a prominent Labour supporter over the years.

However, in 2022 she criticised Sir Keir and the party, describing it as "not any good" and the leader as "boring".

Following the game, the Labour leader enjoyed a meal at the Merchants of Spice II in Yarmouth Road.

During Liz Truss' time as foreign secretary, the Foreign Office spent £1,841 in Norwich City's online shop.

Labour criticised the spending, which the department said was related to an "overseas shared values children's project".