The key issue freebies for Ministers row is the Q. of absolutism or proportion?
Accusations work on an absolutism - any gifts, benefits etc. are a lever for illegitimate influence & should be rejected.
The defence is based on proportionality; getting free football tickets or some expensive clothes is not the same as COVID VIP lane corruption or various other Tory scams.
Because its simpler the media prefers absolutism.... but the proportionality defence is not without merit!
@ChrisMayLA6 Research on the medical profession shows that gifts as small as pens drive changes in behaviour that benefit pharmaceutical companies. The people giving gifts to politicians know that the return on the grift of a few thousand will be contracts and laws that will benefit them millions.
