Sir Starmer’s decision to accept thousands of pounds worth of freebies has been slammed – and there’s a cheeky suggestion for a Winter Frock Allowance.
Keir Starmer has been slammed for accept ing freebies alongside his wife. (Image: Getty)
Prime Minister Keir Stamer has been slammed as a “screaming hypocrite” after finding himself mired in a freebie scandal after rejoicing in a former Tory PM’s “sleaze”.
This week Sir Keir Starmer has found himself defending accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothing freebies for himself and his wife Lady Starmer.
A chorus of criticism is mounting as it was revealed over the weekend that some of the handouts given to them by top Labour donor Lord Alli were reportedly not declared in accordance with the rules.
One of those detractors is Telegraph columnist Michael Deacon who has called out Keir for his hypocrisy and double standards.
Mr Deacon wrote: “When Boris Johnson was reported to have bought expensive wallpaper using donations that hadn’t been properly declared, Sir Keir Starmer was utterly appalled.
The Labour Prime Minister is under fire for accepting the gifts from Lord Alli. (Image: Getty)
“Addressing the Commons in April 2021, he referred to the then prime minister as ‘Major Sleaze’, and accused him of being ‘mired in sleaze, cronyism and scandal’.”
He added: “Sir Keir is doubtless now able to see that it might have been wiser not to kick up such a stink about Mr Johnson’s wallpaper. Because it’s made him look ever so slightly like a screaming hypocrite.”
Paying reference to the Government’s decision to snatch away the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners, he then cheekily suggests the Government “create a Winter Frock Allowance, to help the wives of struggling premiers survive the Christmas party season”.
In allowing multi-millionaire businessman and Labour donor Lord Alli to fund high-end clothes, a personal shopper and alterations for his wife, the PM has possibly breached parliamentary rules.
Lord Alli – whose wealth is estimated to be £200m – is Starmer’s biggest personal donor and has this year given the Labour leader £18,685 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses. Lord Alli was later given a pass to access No 10 Downing Street, despite having no formal Government role.
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The Prime Minister, however, suggested he would continue to take gifts from Lord Alli.
Asked on Monday whether he would continue to accept gifts from Lord Alli, Sir Keir said that “all Members of Parliament get gifts” and “the important thing is that they’re declared in accordance with the rules”.
MPs are supposed to declare gifts and donations to the parliamentary authorities within 28 days of receiving them.
However, the Prime Minister declared the gifts to his wife, thought to have been received both before and after he entered Downing Street, only last week after initially believing that they did not need to be added to the register.
They have to declare “any interest which someone might reasonably consider to influence their actions or words as an MP”, and the declarations are then published on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
