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Another freebie for millionaire Keir Starmer emerges in £20k declaration_l

Revelations continue to emerge surrounding the relationship between top Labour donor Lord Alli and the Prime Minister.

Sir Keir Starmer is under renewed fire today as the “glasses for passes” scandal shows no sign of abating.

This morning it was revealed that top Labour donor Lord Alli, who was mysteriously granted an access-all-areas pass to Downing Street after the election, gave the Starmers access to his house at times during the election.

The Telegraph, which published the revelation this morning, says this generous gift was worth more than £20,000.

The news comes after fury was sparked when it emerged Lord Alli had also given Lady Starmer over £ 5,000 worth of designer clothes and a personal shopping experience, all while the Government moves to take away pensioners’ winter fuel allowance.

The donations to the Prime Minister’s wife were not declared in line with parliamentary transparency rules, and have now sparked calls for a formal sleaze investigation by the Commons standards body.

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Sir Keir received the use of Lord Alli’s house during the election (Image: Getty)

Yesterday the PM told journalists he will continue to take gifts from Lord Alli, who has given nearly £1 million to the Labour Party and its politicians over the past two decades.

Sir Keir said “all members of parliament get gifts” and “the important thing is that they’re declared in accordance with the rules”.

Despite the row surrounding free clothes, both Sir Keir and his wife brazenly attended fashion events in London yesterday, with the PM hosting a British Fashion Council Reception in Downing Street.

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The PM insisted that his team had ‘reached out’ to inquire about declaration rules for spouse gifts, however the free clobber had been received both before and after the election and Sir Keir failed to register them.

In a relief to the PM this afternoon, No. 10 said that the House of Commons’ standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg had declined to instigate an investigation.

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Lady Victoria received £5,000 in free designer clothes, which weren’t declared (Image: Getty)

In 2022, Sir Keir also dodged an investigation after failing to declare eight financial declarations in his official register of interests, including the sale of a plot of land that exceeded the £100,00 threshold.

Despite dodging the humiliation of a sleaze investigation, Sir Keir has also been accused of hypocrisy after demanding an investigation into Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, after they received a donor loan to pay for a No10 flat renovation.

Sir Keir accused Mr Johnson of failing to answer questions, telling the Commons: “The PM will be aware he is required to declare any benefits that relate to his political activities including loans or credit arrangements within 28 days.”

“He will also know that any donation must be recorded in the register of ministers’ interests, and that under the law any donation of £500 to a political party must be registered and declared.”

“So the rules are very clear!”

This morning Labour minister Dame Angela Eagle repeatedly failed to defend Sir Keir’s decision to accept money from Lord Alli to pay for his designer glasses.

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She said that the Prime Minister had “dealt with the issue”, but when asked why someone on £166,000 a year shouldn’t buy his own specs furious spat back: “Well, why don’t you ask him?”

She added: “I’m afraid I’m not responsible for decisions the prime minister makes.”

Times Radio presenter Stig Abell pointed out Labour frequently took views on Tory leaders’ decisions around similar donations.

He argued: “I’ll tell you why you might have an opinion; Angela Rayner had an opinion when Boris Johnson was getting money from donors.”

“She tweeted, what right does a man who complains he can’t live on 150 grand a year and asks Tory donors to fund his luxury wallpaper habit have? What right does he have to lecture someone trying to survive on £80 a week?

“That’s what Labour attacked Boris Johnson for doing. And now you’ve got someone who has a luxury glasses habit who’s taking money from pensioners. People are going to have an opinion on that, aren’t they?”

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