FREE FALLING
Keir Starmer will NOT accept donations for clothes in future as he caves in on freebie row
The PM has defended accepting more freebies than any other MP
SIR Keir Starmer has vowed to never accept freebie clothes and glasses again as he finally caved to a growing backlash.
No10 sources confirmed that the PM, his deputy Angela Rayner, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves will refuse such gifts in the future.
1
It follows a bruising few weeks following revelations multi-millionaire Labour peer Lord Alli spent thousands of pounds on garments for Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria.
And the saga intensified when it emerged Ms Reeves and Ms Rayner had also accepted gifted clothing.
The PM has defended accepting more freebies than any other MP, including the run of a corporate box at Arsenal.
Even Labour MPs put the boot in as Sir Keir was forced to defend getting free suits while axing winter fuel payments for pensioners and warning of a tough Budget next month.
Downing Street tonight tried to draw a line under the row going into the party conference in Liverpool tomorrow.
But last night Tory candidate James Cleverly turned the screw, blasting: ”Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have been exposed as utter hypocrites, and displayed the most blatant of double standards.
“Keir Starmer is in his job after spending years criticising the Conservatives for accepting donations.
“Now, he has accepted thousands of pounds in donations for clothing for him, his wife and senior ministers - and given a No10 pass to one of his donors in lieu of a thank you note.
Most read in Politics
“It’s taken mere weeks for him to show just how out of touch he is.”
Home Office Minister Jess Phillips insisted there was no conflict of interest despite him overseeing the implementation of a new football regulator.
The Premier League has been furiously lobbying against the imposition of a football regulator.
Ms Phillips said: “Keir Starmer is perfectly capable of going along to an Arsenal match, which he’s been doing most of his life, and then making a decision about whether football should be regulated.”
She added: “The Prime Minister has lived entirely by the rules that have governed every single member of Parliament, certainly since I've been there - he received gifts and things, and he declared them.”
Sir Keir yesterday denied he was "King of the Freebies" as he came under mounting pressure over the declarations.
A dossier revealed his declarations include tickets for his favourite club Arsenal along with suits and spectacles from Labour donor Lord Alli worth £18,000.
The multi-millionaire Peer also gave clothes worth £5,000 of high-end clothes to his wife Lady Victoria.
Lady Victoria Starmer shakes off freebie dress sleaze claims — by wearing a loaned outfit to London Fashion Week
The PM said he didn’t think it as “fair” that “the taxpayer who’s going to have to pick up the tab for the extra security” if he sits in the stands.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Sir Keir has had to move seats after having season tickets since they moved to the Emirates stadium where he sits with his son and friends.
He told ITV News: “So I’ve taken up the offer to sit elsewhere in the stands so I can still see Arsenal play because I’ve been going for many, many years to see them on a regular basis, and I intend to continue to do so when I said.”
Topics