Millionaire Tory donor puts up Keir Starmer in luxury hotel after Labour leader enjoyed Coldplay gig

A multi-millionaire Tory donor – who posed with Boris Johnson just days before the last general election – gave Sir Keir Starmer a free night’s stay at a luxury Manchester hotel this month.

Matthew Moulding, founder of The Hut Group (THG), provided a night’s accommodation for the Labour leader at the King Street Townhouse on 1 June.

It came after Sir Keir and his family were given free tickets to a Coldplay concert, held at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, that evening.

The donation was listed in an update to the Labour leader’s register of interests, with the hotel accommodation for four people for one night, including breakfast, valued at £937.

THG, an online beauty and nutrition giant, has previously been revealed to have donated more than £300,000 to the Conservative Party.

Matthew Moulding, founder of The Hut Group (THG), provided a night’s accommodation for the Labour leader at the King Street Townhouse on 1 June

It came after Sir Keir Starmer and his family were given free tickets to a Coldplay concert, held at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, that evening

Four Coldplay tickets given to Sir Keir, worth £698, were donated to the Labour leader by SJM Concerts

Two days before the 2019 general election, Mr Moulding – the firm’s founder and CEO – gave Boris Johnson a tour of THG’s warehouse in Warrington, Cheshire.

The donation was listed in an update to the Labour leader’s register of interests, with the hotel accommodation for four people for one night, including breakfast, valued at £937

Two days before the 2019 general election, Mr Moulding – the firm’s founder and CEO – gave Mr Johnson a tour of THG’s warehouse in Warrington, Cheshire.

He praised the then prime minister for bringing ‘a good few laughs’ to his company despite being ‘weary’ as the election campaign neared its end.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, Mr Moulding, 51, was also among 103 business leaders who declared support for the Tories.

A source in Sir Keir’s office said the Labour leader was visiting Manchester in a personal capacity and had not met or spoken to Mr Moulding, who is not a Labour donor.

Four Coldplay tickets given to Sir Keir, worth £698, were donated to the Labour leader by SJM Concerts.

He also enjoyed a free private box for four people at Epsom Downs racecourse, worth £3,718, on 3 June courtesy of Jockey Club Racecourses.

King Street Townhouse, owned by THG, is advertised as a ‘city residence for the inspired’ and offers a gym and spa, a screening room, and a seventh-floor infinity pool with views over Manchester. 

King Street Townhouse is advertised as a ‘city residence for the inspired’ and offers a gym and spa, a screening room, and a seventh-floor infinity pool with views over Manchester

Mr Moulding and his wife Jodie were judged to be worth £630million in this year’s Sunday Times’ rich list

Mr Moulding, a keen gym-goer, is known for posting topless photos of his toned physique on social media.

He and his wife Jodie, who have four children, were judged to be worth £630million in this year’s Sunday Times’ rich list. 

Their wealth is estimated to have fallen in recent years following a sharp fall in the price of THG shares.

Mr Moulding recently renounced his ‘golden share’ rights in the firm – which granted him the power to veto any takeover – in an effort to ease investor concerns over governance.

In 2020, it was reported Mr Moulding had donated more than £300,000 to the Conservative Party over a number of years – through subsidiary companies – and also attended several exclusive ‘donor club’ dinners with ministers.

The businessman has previously urged Rishi Sunak, when he was Chancellor, to reform London Stock Exchange rules to encourage more technology companies to list their shares in the UK.

THG did not provide a comment.