Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Repays £6,000 in Gifts Amidst Ongoing Donation Controversies

Sir Keir Starmer reimburses £6,000 in gifts, featuring Taylor Swift concert tickets

The Prime Minister is taking responsibility for the expenses of six Taylor Swift concert tickets, four horse racing event tickets, and a high-end designer clothing rental favored by his wife.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 9:

Downing Street has announced that Sir Keir Starmer has reimbursed over £6,000 in gifts and hospitality he has accepted since assuming his role.

The prime minister is personally paying for six Taylor Swift concert tickets, four tickets to horse racing events, and a designer clothing rental agreement, the latter being a brand particularly liked by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

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After facing weeks of scrutiny, Sir Keir and his senior staff have been criticized for receiving substantial amounts of gifts from affluent benefactors.

Despite these announcements, rival parties have criticized Labour for alleged hypocrisy, pointing out their previous commitment to "clean up politics" upon taking office.

Sir Keir stated that it was appropriate for him to return the gifts as he works on establishing a new framework for handling donations, which currently depends on personal discretion.

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Addressing the media in Brussels, he stated: "We entered office as a transformative government. We will now introduce guidelines for donations, as previously, politicians made decisions based on their personal discretion on an individual basis."

He explained, "It's essential to establish some overarching guidelines. Therefore, I concluded that it was appropriate for me to handle the repayments until such guidelines are set."

Sir Keir has declared that he will no longer receive contributions meant for clothing expenses.

A spokesperson from Downing Street announced: "The prime minister has ordered the creation of a new set of guidelines concerning gifts and hospitality, which will be included in the revised ministerial code.

"Before the release of the updated code, the prime minister has made payments for multiple listings in his own register. These will be included in the upcoming register of members' interests."

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This is a narrative that continues to haunt the Labour Party.

The government is currently grappling with more pressing concerns, including a worsening crisis in the Middle East and the prime minister's ongoing discussions in Brussels with the European Union. Meanwhile, at home, the spotlight intensifies on one of the Labour Party's major benefactors as new inquiries emerge.

Lord Waheed Alli, the focal point of the controversy surrounding donations, is currently being investigated by the commissioners of the House of Lords for purportedly failing to register interests.

Labour maintains that the issue is simply a paperwork mistake and privately believes that the inquiry will be concluded swiftly.

It once again highlights the problem of donations, a matter the government recognizes must be resolved swiftly.

Today, Number 10 announced that the prime minister has reimbursed £6,000 for gifts he received during the election, which includes expenses for six Taylor Swift concert tickets, four racing event tickets, and a high-end designer clothing rental favored by his wife, Lady Victoria.

Last week, Baroness Harman of the Labour Party advised Sir Keir Starmer to cease attempts to "justify" receiving gifts, stating it only exacerbates the situation. She even proposed that he should consider auctioning some of the gifts for charity.

It appears that the government is paying attention, albeit at a sluggish pace.

Today, it established a new series of guidelines regarding gifts and hospitality, which will be included in the revised ministerial code. However, for many within the party, this move is seen as appropriate but significantly overdue.

Lord Alli's current inquiry may not concern donations, but it underscores the persistence of such issues if they are not immediately addressed.

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Sir Keir received various complimentary tickets, including four Taylor Swift concert tickets worth £2,800 from Universal Music Group, two football match tickets valued at £598 from the Football Association, and four tickets to the Doncaster Races, which cost £1,939, courtesy of Arena Racing Corporation.

The Prime Minister also took care of an £839 apparel leasing deal with Edeline Lee, a designer his wife recently chose for London Fashion Week, which included an hour of hair and makeup services.

Additionally, Sir Keir received an extra £6,134 in "clothing and personal support" for Lady Starmer in June, courtesy of notable Labour contributor Lord Waheed Alli, as noted in the most recent register of interests released on Wednesday.

It appears that the matter will be examined closely following revelations that a prominent Labour peer and major party donor is subject to a House of Lords inquiry concerning "alleged failure to register interests," which could result in a violation of the members' code of conduct.

Sky News has learned that the inquiry is not about donations but focuses on a bureaucratic aspect of interests that have already been reported.

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Sir Keir received two tickets, valued at £920, from Tottenham Hotspur stadium to attend the North London derby in September, and Arsenal FC provided him with tickets worth £1,000 for a match in August, as recorded in the register.

He has justified his acceptance of hospitality to attend football games before, explaining that security issues stop him from being in the stands without a significant and costly police detail.

The record indicated that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner reported receiving £836 worth of hospitality for a "visit to a DJ booth," following her appearance at a party in Ibiza.

The filing pertains to an outing at a club on a Spanish island, where the housing secretary was recorded dancing and receiving cheers from the audience during the summer.

The latest registry of interests shows that the donor named is Ayita LLC.

Liam Conlon, a Labour MP and the son of Sue Gray, who is the chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer, received a pair of Taylor Swift concert tickets from the Premier League, according to the registry.

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