Keir Starmer pays back more than £6,000 in gifts after becoming prime minister
Sir Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts received since becoming prime minister, Downing Street has said.
A scandal over freebies accepted by the Labour leader – including six Taylor Swift tickets – rocked the party within weeks of him entering Number 10.
So much so, that Labour MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, becoming the first MP to jump ship since the General Election over the row.
Sir Keir and other Cabinet members – who vowed to ‘clean up’ British politics after 14 years of Tory rule – faced weeks of criticism for accepting tens of thousands of pounds worth of freebies from wealthy donors.
He has now decided to cover the cost of Taylor Swift tickets, four to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.
Sir Keir said it was ‘right’ for him to repay the donations while new principles for accepting gifts were drawn up.
He told reporters in Brussels: ‘We came in as a government of change.
‘We are now going to bring forward principles for donations, because, until now, politicians have used their best individual judgment on a case-by-case basis. I think we need some principles of general application.
‘So, I took the position that until the principles are in place it was right for me to make those repayments.’
A Downing Street spokesperson said the PM has now commissioned a new set of principles on gifts and hospitality to be published as part of the updated ministerial code.
‘Ahead of the publication of the new code, he has paid for several entries on his own register. This will appear in the next register of members’ interests, they added.
Gifts paid for by the leader include four Taylor Swift tickets from Universal Music Group totalling £2,800, two from the Football Association at a cost of £598, and four to Doncaster Races from Arena Racing Corporation at £1,939.
An £839 clothing rental agreement with Edeline Lee, the designer worn by his wife to London Fashion Week, along with one hour of hair and makeup, was also paid for by him.
All donations and gifts from Lord Alli declared by MPs
Donations
– October 19, 2023: £10,000 to Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) – ‘For the private office of the leader of the opposition.’
– November 7, 2023: £12,500 to David Lammy (Labour) – ‘Towards paying for additional staff for my office.’
– November 16, 2023: £8,500 to Angela Rayner (Labour) – ‘Donation to support me in my capacity as deputy L=leader of the Labour Party.’
– December 8, 2023: £10,000 to Bridget Phillipson (Labour) – ‘To host a number of events, including on behalf of the Shadow Education Team.’
– December 11, 2023: £4,000 to Bridget Phillipson – ‘To host a number of events, including on behalf of the Shadow Education Team.’
– February 26, 2024: £6,000 to Sir Keir Starmer – ‘For the private office of the leader of the opposition.’
– April 15, 2024: £8,250 to Angela Rayner – ‘To support me in my capacity as deputy ‘eader of the Labour Party.’
– April 26. 2024: £900 to Angela Rayner – ‘To support me in my capacity as deputy leader of the Labour Party.’
– July 29, 2024: £3,550 to Angela Rayner – ‘Donation in kind for undertaking parliamentary duties.’
– August 2, 2024: £10,000 to Liam Conlon (Labour) – no description given
Gifts
– March 22, 2023 (published in register on December 3, 2023): £1,200,000 to Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour) – ‘Interest free loan to be repaid on the sale of the home I share with a family member. The move was necessary to provide the family member with complete ground floor access.’
– April 24, 2024: £16,200 to Sir Keir Starmer – Work clothing
– May 22, 2024: £2,485 to Sir Keir Starmer – Multiple pairs of glasses
– August 2, 2024: £20,437.28 to Sir Keir Starmer – Accommodation
– September 13 2024: £6,134.00 to Sir Keir Starmer – Clothing and personal support to spouse
Sir Keir has also accepted a further £6,134 in ‘clothing and personal support’ for Lady Starmer in June, from prominent Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli, according to the latest register of interests published on Wednesday.
That declaration is likely to come under scrutiny after it emerged earlier today that the peer is under investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog.
The Lords’ commissioner is looking at an ‘alleged non-registration of interests’ by the former media executive.
The PM also took £920 from Tottenham Hotspur stadium for tickets to the north London derby in September, and £1,000 from Arsenal FC for a game in August, according to the register.
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