Politicians really ought to have disclosures by their names, highlighting whom they represent. For instance in the U.S. we’d have Patrick McHenry (R-Commercial Banking), Amy Klobuchar (D-Delta Air Lines), Chuck Schumer (D-Television Cameras), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Private Equity).
In the U.K. they’ve made real advances along these lines, as London’s Mayor is now sponsored by United Airlines. He signed an agreement to promote United on his official U.S. visit in exchange for business class travel.
- He committed to provide United with “recognition” at events as part of his tour promoting trade.
- The written agreement promised that United would be able to “optimise all appropriate PR opportunities” around the trip, including placing their logo on signage and accompanying the mayor and his staff on their flights.
- The London Mayor promoted United’s transatlantic services. He posted with the airline’s pilots at Heathrow prior to departing on his trip, and tweeted their messaging about serving Heathrow.
London is an unrivalled location to visit and invest in. I’m excited to take this message to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles and showcase our amazing city to America.
First stop NYC – with @United – who are now flying 22 times a day from Heathrow to the US. pic.twitter.com/HLi3lx1pRh
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) May 8, 2022
- London City Hall touted the airline in a press release that day,
United Airlines is proud to be flying the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and his team on their trade mission to the United States.
His Chief of Staff previously denied the arrangement,
David Bellamy, told members of the London Assembly he would “not describe it as a United Airlines sponsored trip” in June this year.
Mr Bellamy said that it was “a natural part of these trips that businesses doing business with London get some publicity out of it”, adding: “I am not aware of anything specifically we did for [United] in exchange.”
There’s currently an ethics complaint over the Mayor’s failure to declare the flights as gifts, but it seems to me that the travel was provided to the mayor’s office for official business rather than to him personally and the deal reduced travel costs for taxpayers.
- Flying business class on a work trip across the Pond isn’t unreasonable
- The Mayor is elected in part for their judgment, and re-election is a referendum on that judgment
- Still, there’s something a bit distasteful about the Mayor’s office being ‘rented out’ to endorse a brand? Especially when it’s endorsing a foreign brand over the nation’s flag carrier British Airways?
Sadiq Khan is head of the Greater London Authority, not to be confused with the City of London Corporation (“The City” as its known is the focal point for much of Britain’s financial sector).
Mayors endorsing brands isn’t unheard of, of course. The Mayor of the City of Miami has very little actual power (most power is held by Dade County, and Miami itself has a weak mayor system). Francis Suarez has earned millions from outside work while serving as Mayor, including work for Bilt Rewards.
The practice could be expanded, allowing politicians to accept gifts with full disclosure in lieu of salary. Today, politicians receive compensation from taxpayers while in office and outsized compensation once leaving office – for endorsement, help navigating legislation and regulation, and prestige. This would simply allow future compensation to be pulled forward and take the place of taxpayer-funded compensation.
(HT: Miles)
The Washington Post has an article today saying that some US Senators are asking the Metropolitan Washington Airports authority which operates DCA and IAD for communications with United. Some of the western US senators want more beyond perimeter access to DCA which Delta is pushing while others say that United is unfairly speaking to influence the decision – which has to be made by Congress – to block more beyond perimeter flights in order to protect IAD.
As for UA in London, it is notable that they acknowledge their structural disadvantage in the UK to AA/BA and DL/VS. If they want to fly someone around for free, let them as long as both parties properly declare it to their constituents and governments.
My Mon always told me that if you can’t saying good, say nothing. I’ll leave it at that about the diminutive Sadiq Khan.
As to politicians both here in the US and the UK, it’s about time we started asking how they seem to grow their fortunes so exponentially while serving us. Liz Cheney is a perfect example. $7mm in 2017; $44MM in 2020. The numbers vary depending on which website is reporting, but I think we can assume it wasn’t saved up from a US Rep’s salary. She’s not alone either.
I saw an interview where he was rambling a mad libs of green policy quotes. I guess i take some comfort he sees it fine to travel in biz class, which it is.
But politically…odd for a sitting mayor to endorse a brand.
@Greg. ..and even more odd to endorse a FOREIGN brand. He must not remember the heat Princess Di got early on for choosing a German automobile (Mercedes or BMW, can’t remember which…)
No issues with someone in that position flying Business Class across the ocean. My analysts in the past have even gotten premium economy and manager title and up gets Business. A lot of people disagree but public “servants” should have relative pay and benefits to equivalent roles in private industry (adjusted of course for things like index linked pensions and higher employer/govt contribution to health care costs).
As long as it’s declared and it’s not to him as an individual, perhaps that’s good fiscal responsibility. But that’s for his constituents to decide.
Are the LondonAir apologists worked up in a tizzy over London’s mayor being supportive of a “British Airways” competitor?
Better he promote competition to and/from London this way than play up the already too dominant BA/AA behemoth at Heathrow.
@Gary – Love the Chuck Schumer (D – Televsion Cameras) but you left out Elizabeth Warren (D – The Little Guys).
Chuck Schumer has slowed down in his old age, so it’s no longer as dangerous to be in the way between him and the cameras.
Don’t forget his senior, US Senator Patty Murray (D-Spare Spare Spare). First woman to be third in line of succession for the US President, and Schumer hasn’t bowled her over (yet).
Gary – you do realize Mayor Suarez is currently under FBI investigation for corruption? Miami is notorious for corrupt politicians.
Didn’t Mayor Adams in NYC previously say TK is his favorite airline?
Adams was at a Turkish Airlines event with Martha Stewart.
Adams has been in bed with Turkey, so he probably deserves the title of “Mayor of Turkey”.