David Lammy complains that the taxpayer doesn’t foot the bill for clothes for Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria as PM is accused of ‘hypocrisy’ for failing to declare money for dresses from millionaire Labour donor_l
Keir Starmer took thousands of pounds from a millionaire Labour donor to pay for designer suits because the taxpayer doesn’t pick up the bill, the Foreign Secretary suggested today.
David Lammy bemoaned that there was no public funding for the wardrobe of the Prime Minister – who is paid £166,000 a year – or his wife Victoria in the same way as there is for the US President and First Lady.
It came as the PM came under fire for allegedly breaking parliamentary rules by failing to declare donations of clothing, alterations and a personal shopper for Lady Starmer from Waheed Alli.
The gifts were not initially declared in the register of MPs’ interests. The Sunday Times reported that the Prime Minister approached the parliamentary authorities on Tuesday to make a late declaration after being given updated advice on what needed to be registered.
Lord Alli hit the headlines last month when it was revealed he contributed more than £18,000 towards Sir Keir’s suits and spectacles.
Appearing on Sky News‘ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Lammy suggested the PM had been ‘transparent’.
Asked if he realised the situation would look ‘odd’ to voters, he replied: ‘I recognise that, but I also recognise that in our country there isn’t a budget for the PM’s clothes or his wife’s clothes.
‘In some countries there is a substantial budget – I have just come back from America where there is a substantial budget to ensure that the US President and the First Lady, their appearance can never be challenged.
That is not that case in our country. So it is the case that successive leaders of the opposition wanting to represent the country on an international stage, and PMs, have used donors to fund that budget, that is the truth of it.’
The US president receives a salary of around £305,000 (400,000 US dollars) and a £38,100 (50,000 dollar) expenses allowance, although there is no specific clothing budget.
But Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly told Sky News: ‘It’s absolutely legitimate that we point out the hypocrisy of someone who basically got his job by criticising others for what he’s now doing.’
David Lammy bemoaned that there was no public funding for the wardrobe of the Prime Minister or his wife Victoria in the same way as there is for the US President and First Lady.
It came as the PM came under fire for allegedly breaking parliamentary rules by failing to declare donations of clothing for Lady Starmer.
The Sunday Times reported that the Prime Minister approached the parliamentary authorities on Tuesday to make a late declaration after being given updated advice on what needed to be registered.
The US president receives a salary of around £305,000 (400,000 US dollars) and a £38,100 (50,000 dollar) expenses allowance, although there is no specific clothing budget.
The gifts were from prominent billionaire labour donor Lord Alli (pictured)
The Tory part has now demanded a full investigation into the Starmers’ links with prominent Labour donor Lord Alli.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘It’s taken just 10 weeks for Keir Starmer to face an investigation for his conduct.
‘After facing allegations of cronyism and now apparent serious breaches of parliamentary rules there must be a full investigation into the passes for glasses scandal.
‘No doubt the millions of vulnerable pensioners across the country who face choosing between heating and eating would jump at the chance for free clothes just to keep warm in the face of Labour’s cruel cut.’
The Sunday Times also reported the donations covered the cost of a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Starmer both before and after Labour’s election
MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: ‘We sought advice from the authorities on coming to office.
Victoria Starmer on day three of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse
‘We believed we had been compliant, however, following further interrogation this month, we have declared further items.’
MailOnline reached out to the Labour Party for comment.
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The guide to the Commons rules states MPs should register ‘any benefit given to any third party, whether or not this accompanied a benefit for him or her, if the Member is aware, or could reasonably be expected to be aware, of the benefit and that it was given because of his or her membership of the House or parliamentary or political activities’.
Lord Alli’s involvement with the Labour leader has already proved controversial after it emerged he had been given a Downing Street security pass without apparently having a government role.
The row was dubbed the ‘passes for glasses’ affair because Lord Alli has previously donated tens of thousands of pounds worth of clothing, accommodation and ‘multiple pairs’ of spectacles to the Labour leader.
The highly unusual move meant the millionaire TV mogul, who was hired by Sir Keir as the party’s chief fundraiser, could attend political meetings in No 10 and is said to have helped organise a Downing Street garden party to thank others who bankrolled the campaign.
