PM accepted £20,000 so his boy could study

It was said on Today that he and family had to move into Lord Alli's 'accommodation' so that his son could study for his examinations. No price was mentioned.

When he declared it - which he did - the value was estimated.

Sounds very odd. Wonder if this hasn’t been squewed in some way. Can understand the need for no distractions but can’t believe the PM was actually handed £20,000 to pay for this. Sounds like another distraction cooked up for the Labour conference.

I think this is a non-story.
He moved from his house to the "loan" of someone else's so his son could revise, leave the house, and get to school in peace.

The journalists made this too difficult at their own home.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/keir-starmer-prime-minister-gcses-mps-government-b2618505.html

www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-donation-son-gcse-housing-acoommodation-prime-minister-b1183972.html

I don’t see an issue with it.

I just heard something about this today, for the first time.
Clearly something happened, but precisely what, it’s difficult to say. It appears money changed hands, but from who to who is unclear. If it was a simple matter of moving to a different house, then money wouldn’t be involved, unless of course, it was a rental.
I guess we’ll find out more soon.

Oh, according to the link given, it was the dear Lord Alli again.
Something very suspect about him I think.

Again…

When he declared it - which he did - the value was estimated.

Money didn’t change hands.

They do seem to be "bessie mates" dont they?

"PM accepted £20,000 so his boy could study" totally incorrect
The PM actually accepted free use of accommodation to ensure the privacy of his children during the election. The accommodation was estimated to have cost £20,000 if it had been necessary to have paid for it.

It was nonetheless a free gift.
A gift that wouldn’t have been available to me or you unless we paid £20,000.
Labour are against independent schools but accept gifts valued at roughly the same value as many independent schools charge (for an entire year’s study) in order to give their child an advantage many other children don’t have.

maddyfour

It was nonetheless a free gift.
A gift that wouldn’t have been available to me or you unless we paid £20,000.
Labour are against independent schools but accept gifts valued at roughly the same value as many independent schools charge (for an entire year’s study) in order to give their child an advantage many other children don’t have.

One has to assume that other children preparing for GCSE do not have to deal with the disadvantage of disruption from journalists targeting a private family home.
How anyone can think such behaviour by the press is acceptable, is beyond me.

We have stayed at friends houses for whatever reason as they have ours. No money changes hands.
I heard the interview on Today this morning. It was explained and I felt we all surely accept that a parent wouldn’t want their young children hounded by the press as they come and go from home, especially during exam time.
It must be handy to have wealthy friends like Mr Alli.
Trouble is after so much generosity one wonders what Mr Alli might want in return, after all, theres no such thing as a free lunch.

maddyfour

It was nonetheless a free gift.
A gift that wouldn’t have been available to me or you unless we paid £20,000.
Labour are against independent schools but accept gifts valued at roughly the same value as many independent schools charge (for an entire year’s study) in order to give their child an advantage many other children don’t have.

Ridiculous comment!

I have plenty of friends who would be more than willing to put up my children in similar circs.

It’s simply not relevant at all.

Surely Keir Starmer would have forseen this and made arrangements accordingly.
I think it would be easy enough to rent a place away from the madding crowd.

I agree with silverlining48 no such thing as a free lunch.

Soda pop I don’t think the election was expected, it was called suddenly by sunak with little notice.

maddyfour

Oh, according to the link given, it was the dear Lord Alli again.
Something very suspect about him I think.

He has fingers in several pies, doesn't he!
What's he hoping for in exchange? And who is he anyway?

I feel sorry for the children of politicians, journalists should leave them alone to get on with their lives.
I hope Starmer Jnr did well in his GCSEs.

Cossy dismissing my comment as ridiculous is both rude and contemptuous. I’m pleased you have friends who could offer your children such an advantage in similar circumstances, but don’t think for one minute that what you appear to think of as normal, is in fact far from normal, and is indeed indicative of extreme privilege.

I worked as a teacher in an area where most children would have been lucky to have a room in their flat to study in without interruption. They study under difficult circumstances where there are more often than not, several children in the family, and few bedrooms, let alone any other room, where they could study in peace. This is what irritates me about so many socialists, they simply don’t recognise their privilege.

Nor is it a ridiculous comment to mention that whilst families trying to ensure their children have a good start in life by paying for independent education are being penalised, those who can rely on rich friends to provide their children with an advantage are accepted as normal. It is not normal to be given the loan of £20,000 worth of accommodation in order to ensure the best educational advantage for one’s child, it is indicative of extreme privilege.

It is not normal to be given the loan of £20,000 worth of accommodation in order to ensure the best educational advantage for one’s child, it is indicative of extreme privilege.

No it's not usual, is it.
Presumably the journalists hadn't managed to get inside the Starmers' house, which was roomy enough so that each child had their own bedroom plus rooms to spare.

Some children are sharing bedrooms with siblings and there are others whose whole family live in a couple of rooms.

Mamie you are correct in that the majority of children studying for their GCSEs do not have to deal with the disruption of journalists targeting their family home, but thousands of children do have to deal with inadequate accommodation that enables them to study properly for their GCSEs. They deal with sharing a bedroom with one, two, or even three siblings, they deal with the constant interruptions of noisy younger siblings, of hearing noises and interruptions from next door, or the street, or the police arriving at a nearby property and breaking the door down. They deal with traffic noise, and they deal with having no desk or table to study at. They may sleep on a mattress on the floor or have to prepare food for their siblings since mum is at work.

At times I really think some people have no idea how some people live. I know, because I have visited many such homes during the course of my work.

At times I really think some people have no idea how some people live. I know, because I have visited many such homes during the course of my work.

Some children have to come home from school and do everything including looking after a disabled parent.
There are thousands of young carers in this country, helped by charities such as Children in Need. They have scarcely time to do any homework, let alone have some fun in their lives.

www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/changing-lives/stories/supporting-young-carers-across-the-uk/

maddyfour

Oh, according to the link given, it was the dear Lord Alli again.
Something very suspect about him I think.

Dear Lord Alli 😂I like that

I used to think that Labour was the party for the workers, the disadvantaged and that they were in touch with the grass roots of the country.

However, I'm beginning to wonder if the present Cabinet is completely out of touch and are all living in ivory towers.

I am sorely disappointed so far. ☹

Didn’t his son have his own room?