The Labour peer at the heart of the donations scandal gave Sir Keir Starmer the use of a second property before the general election. Lord Alli, the multimillionaire former banker and fashion entrepreneur who is the prime minister’s biggest personal donor, gave Starmer access to his £4 million townhouse in Soho, London, purchased in 2020. Starmer’s team held regular election strategy meetings at the Georgian property.
Senior aides and shadow ministers are thought to have been present, including Pat McFadden, now the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Lord Livermore, the financial secretary to the Treasury. Sue Gray, his chief of staff, held separate gatherings at the premises. Asked if they were preparing for government meetings, No 10 declined to respond.
The Cabinet Office would not say if Simon Case , the cabinet secretary, had been present at the Soho property or separate transition talks allegedly held at Alli’s Covent Garden penthouse. A government spokesman said: “We don’t comment on access talks.”.