Keir Starmer defends taking freebies and hints he will continue accepting lavish gifts from wealthy Labour peer despite the PM and his wife Victoria being embroiled in 'wardrobegate' row By Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent For Mailonline Published: 14:15 EDT, 16 September 2024 | Updated: 14:16 EDT, 16 September 2024 e-mail 22 View comments Sir Keir Starmer has defended taking freebies as he hinted he would continue accepting lavish gifts - such as high-end clothing - from Labour peer Lord Alli. The Prime Minister and his wife, Victoria, are embroiled in a 'wardrobegate' row after he allegedly broke rules by failing to declare donations on time. The Tories have demanded a probe by Parliament's watchdog into the Starmers' links with Lord Alli.
They said the couple's acceptance of luxury gifts 'beggars belief' in the wake of the Government's decision to strip millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments. The row is embarrassing for Sir Keir, who was once dubbed 'Mr Rules', following his fierce criticism of Tory 'sleaze' under the last government. It has also led to questions over why the PM, who had a stellar legal career before entering politics, seemingly could not pay for clothes despite earning £166,000 a year as premier.
But Sir Keir signalled he would continue taking gifts from Lord Alli despite a growing backlash. The PM insisted there was a 'massive difference between declarations and corruption' as he faced questions over his alleged failure to register clothing given to Lady Starmer by the multimillionaire businessman within a designated time limit. Sir Keir Starmer has defended taking freebies as he hinted he would continue accepting lavish gifts - such as high-end clothing - from Labour peer Lord Alli The Prime Minister and his wife, Victoria, are embroiled in a 'wardrobegate' row after he allegedly broke rules by failing to declare donations on time Speaking to journalists travelling with him on his visit to Rome, Sir Keir dismissed the idea that taxpayers should fund such expenses for PMs and their spouses.
But he suggested it would be 'pushing it a bit far' to deny him the right to enjoy certain kinds of hospitality. Giving the example of football tickets, which the PM has regularly accepted as gifts, he said: 'I'm a massive Arsenal fan. I can't go into the stands because of security reasons.
'Therefore, if I don't accept a gift of hospitality, I can't go to a game. You could say, 'well, bad luck'. That's why gifts have to be registered.
'But, you know, never going to an Arsenal game again because I can't accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.' The Sunday Times reported Lord Alli's donations covered the cost of a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Starmer both before and after Labour's general election win in July. MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy later suggested that Sir Keir and his wife Victoria accept such gifts to 'look their best' for the country and rely on donations where other countries allow lavish, taxpayer-funded budgets for clothing for their leaders. Asked whether British taxpayers should foot the bill for such expenses, the PM said: 'I certainly don't think we should have a budget for it at taxpayers' expense. 'In relation to gifts of any sort – there are different sorts of gifts – the rules are the framework.
'All MPs get gifts. The rules then say, over a certain value, you've got to declare the gifts, so everybody can see what it was, how much it was, who it came from, and so that you and others can ask questions about it. 'That's a good framework.
It's the right framework. 'That's why I asked my team to make sure we're complying with the framework, which is why they reached out for advice on what to do in this situation. 'When they got further advice, they made the declaration.
I think it's really important everybody else follows the rules.' Asked whether he would consider introducing an anti-corruption adviser, similar to the role carried out by former MP John Penrose under the Tories between 2017 and 2022, Sir Keir replied: 'Well, there's a massive difference between declarations and corruption. 'Declarations (are) about declaring, so you and everybody else can see properly-made declarations.
'I haven't looked at that particular issue but I'm happy to look at it and come back to you at a future date.' Downing Street has said it sought advice from the authorities on the issue of declarations and believed its conduct had been compliant 'however, following further interrogation this month, we have declared further items'. Lady Starmer today attended London Fashion Week as she and Sir Keir faced the growing row over Lord Alli's donations.
Lady Starmer was spotted in a polka dot Edeline Lee dress while her husband dodged questions over why they accepted free clothing worth thousands of pounds from Lord Waheed Alli. Lady Starmer attended today's Edeline Lee show at Millbank Tower during London Fashion Week . She previously wore one of the designer's dresses, worth £1,200, at Labour's conference in October last year.
Sir Keir Starmer 's wife Victoria today attended London Fashion Week as the couple faced a growing row over lavish donations from a Labour peer Lady Starmer was spotted in a polka dot Edeline Lee dress while her husband dodged questions over why they accepted free clothing worth thousands of pounds from Lord Alli She previously wore one of the designer's dresses, worth £1,200, at Labour's conference in October last year Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to meet Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Rome today, Sir Keir ignored a question on whether he should be paying for his own clothes The PM is visiting the Italian capital for talks on tackling illegal migration with Ms Meloni Be the first to comment Be one of the first to comment Comments Should the Starmers return their freebies? Comment now It emerged this weekend that Lord Alli paid for high-end clothes, a personal shopper and garment alterations for Lady Starmer. But the gifts were not initially declared by Sir Keir in the register of MPs' interests. The Sunday Times reported the PM approached parliamentary officials last week to make a late declaration after being given updated advice on what needed to be registered.
It comes less than a month after Lord Alli, who bought suits and spectacles worth £18,865 for Sir Keir, faced questions over being granted a rare No10 security pass in a 'passes for glasses' row. Speaking earlier to broadcasters on his visit to Rome, the PM dodged a question on whether he should be paying for his own clothes. He said: 'Let me shed a bit of light on this.
It's very important to me that the rules are followed. 'I've always said that. I said that before the election, I've reinforced it after the election.
'And that's why, shortly after the election, my team reached out for advice on what declaration should be made so it's in accordance with the rules. 'They then sought out for further advice more recently, as a result of which they made the relevant declarations. 'But for me it's really important that the rules are followed.
'That's why I was very pleased my team reached out proactively, not once but twice, because it is very important that we have transparency, very important that you and others can see the rules are being followed.' Speaking later at a press conference alongside Ms Meloni, Sir Keir declined to say if he would stop receiving gifts from Lord Alli but said 'the rules really matter'. 'It was because I insist on the rules that my team reached out to make sure we were declaring in the right way under the rules and then reached out again to the appropriate authorities - basically asking for advice about what's the appropriate way to deal with this in accordance with the rules,' he added.
Sir Keir was yesterday pictured celebrating Arsenal's victory over Tottenham alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy. And, on Saturday, Sir Keir enjoyed a day at Doncaster racecourse with Lady Starmer just hours after returning to the UK following talks in Washington DC with US President Joe Biden It emerged this weekend that Lord Alli paid for high-end clothes, a personal shopper and garment alterations for Lady Starmer Sir Keir is visiting Rome for talks on tackling illegal migration with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. He was yesterday pictured celebrating Arsenal's victory over Tottenham alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
And, on Saturday, Sir Keir enjoyed a day at Doncaster racecourse with Lady Starmer just hours after returning to the UK following talks in Washington DC with US President Joe Biden. The PM enjoyed £76,000 worth of free tickets and clothes - including many Arsenal matches - during the last parliament, which was more than almost any other MP. The Conservatives have written to, Daniel Greenberg, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to call for an investigation into Sir Keir's failure to declare donations from Lord Alli.
It said: 'In August it was then reported that Lord Alli had been given a temporary Downing Street security pass despite having no formal government role. 'It was reported that he had played an active role in selecting Cabinet (and other) appointments. 'It has now emerged that at the same time Sir Keir Starmer failed to declare a substantial gift of designer clothes, tailoring and a personal shopper bought for his wife by Lord Alli, both prior to the general election on July 4 2024 and following it.
'There must be a full investigation into this scandal given this is not the first instance of the PM failing to declare donations and abiding by parliamentary rules.' Sir Keir is facing the row over political donations at the same time as he is suffering a backlash at his and Chancellor Rachel Reeves' decision to strip millions of pensioners of their winter fuel payments. Mr Lammy yesterday suggested Sir Keir and Lady Starmer accepted donations of clothing so they could 'look their best' to represent Britain.
The Foreign Secretary also pointed to how US presidents and first ladies have an expenses allowance 'so that they look their best on behalf of the US people'. Andrew Griffith, the Conservatives' shadow science secretary, said: 'It beggars belief that the PM thinks it's acceptable that pensioners on £13,000 a year can afford to heat their home when he earns 12 times that but apparently can't afford to clothe himself or his wife. 'While his top team want a taxpayer-funded clothes budget to look sharp, people across the country are forced to make tough choices in the face of Labour's damaging decisions.
'Labour promised change but in ten short weeks all they've delivered is a change of clothes for themselves. Labour have made the political choice to put themselves and their Union paymasters before the most vulnerable.' Share or comment on this article: Keir Starmer defends taking freebies and hints he will continue accepting lavish gifts from wealthy Labour peer despite the PM and his wife Victoria being embroiled in 'wardrobegate' row e-mail Add comment.
