Labour Under Scrutiny: No Rules Preventing Donor Lord Alli’s Access to Downing Street, Says Party Chair

Party chair states there are no regulations blocking a Labour donor and peer from obtaining a Downing Street pass.

Over the last two decades, Lord Waheed Alli has contributed £500,000 to the Labour Party and has also assisted in fundraising for Sir Keir Starmer's leadership bid. His specific duties at Downing Street remain undefined, though he has reportedly returned his pass.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 10:

The Labour Party's chair has informed Sky News that there were no regulations preventing them from issuing a Downing Street pass to donor Lord Waheed Alli.

Over the past 20 years, Lord Alli, a Labour representative in the House of Lords, has contributed in excess of £500,000 to the party.

In a discussion with Sky News today, Ellie Reeves, who holds a position as a Cabinet Office minister, was questioned about the appropriateness of granting Lord Alli a pass even though he does not hold an official government role.

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She asserted that the peer was granted access to Downing Street only for "a brief period" and that all the "appropriate procedures" were adhered to.

When questioned about the propriety of a significant donor gaining entry to the centers of power in the UK, Ms. Reeves responded, "There aren't any regulations that bar someone who has previously made a donation or held a political position from having a role."

"Certain regulations and procedures must be adhered to, and it's crucial that these guidelines are honored."

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The reasons behind Lord Alli obtaining a pass to enter Downing Street remain unknown.

Ms. Reeves stated that the peer and donor had "no role in policy-making" and did not offer additional details on his presence at Downing Street.

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Labour previously stated that he participated in a few political gatherings where no civil servants were present and mentioned that he returned his pass at the end of July.

In 1998, Tony Blair elevated Lord Alli to the nobility. Additionally, he took on the role of chief fundraiser for the party during the general election after being recruited by Sir Keir in 2022.

He also contributed £100,000 to Sir Keir's 2020 leadership campaign, as reported by the Sky News Westminster Account project.

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Over the weekend, John Glen, the Conservative shadow paymaster general, commented, "Starmer's sleaze is overwhelming the new government, and it’s crucial for Labour to be transparent about everyone they've placed in senior civil service positions and the donors they've reciprocated favors to, in order to preserve the civil service’s independence and integrity."

Ms. Reeves was questioned on whether the entire cabinet supports the government's plan to implement means testing for winter fuel allowances for the elderly.

She stated, "This is an extremely difficult decision and not one that the chancellor was eager to make.

"The current financial turmoil stems from the mismanagement by our predecessors."

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"After assuming power, we discovered a £22 billion deficit in the nation's budget, necessitating difficult decisions."

She reiterated that the "cabinet supports the chancellor," emphasizing this point after repeated inquiries about whether the decision was unanimous within the government.

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