Sick of Starmer relentlessly using the words"difficult " & "painful"

Rosie51

Wyllow3 did you want to make a comparison between Rishi Sunak while PM supporting his football team from the ordinary stands while Starmer considers he needs the 'safety' of being in a gifted hospitality box? I voted for Labour and really hoped they wouldn't be so grasping and greedy as too many of the Conservatives. He obviously doesn't find it difficult to accept freebies. Weren't we led to believe the greed for freebies was going to be no longer once Labour were elected?

From what I know of Keir he would rather be in the stands because that’s where he has always supported his team. I wonder just how many times Sunak went to see ‘his’ team play and how much of a genuine football fan he actually is.

I've said what I feel about Starmer accepting gifts enough times, I think!

People did not have to invite Johnson to give speeches. I agree that the amount sounds outrageous, but it wasn’t a freebie.
If there is some connection about whether inviting a PM to give speeches and the person giving the invitation to speak and paying the fee, getting a free pass into number 10, or any other carefully hidden advantage, then any such activities in the future must be investigated and stopped.
I’ve been to dinners where the entertainment has been done by someone whose payment, together with sponsorship from the firm, probably accounted for the high price of the tickets.

Wyllow3 did you want to make a comparison between Rishi Sunak while PM supporting his football team from the ordinary stands while Starmer considers he needs the 'safety' of being in a gifted hospitality box? I voted for Labour and really hoped they wouldn't be so grasping and greedy as too many of the Conservatives. He obviously doesn't find it difficult to accept freebies. Weren't we led to believe the greed for freebies was going to be no longer once Labour were elected?

Crossed posts, Casdon.

What has happened is that a critique of custom and practice that has previously existed without a great deal of publicity - including Johnsons £250.000 for an evening - grumbled about but not condemned as morally wrong

is that Starmer's case has been brought into the spotlight by certain newspapers/the media who want to make a case against him personally, but the fallout is

that quite rightly gifts and related activities have been sharply brought into the spotlight and criticised

But - once done, once agreed its "not right", (which I have agreed with) - you have to apply the "is it right" "it shouldn't happen"

across the board

It's salutary to therefore look at present and recent past MP "perks" whilst they have been an MP in terms of "how much"

Its not just Labour in the present, as I said twice above

Jenricks July 2024 receiving gifts of £50.000 (see reference above) over 2 days has a valid?? and there are probably others - all relevant if we are to look at change custom and habits in parliamentary life.

Since I have never claimed Starmer was saintly I dont feel the need to defend the current criticism.

Freya5

Wyllow3

I agree -

across the board.

It's also tied up with what you can earn as an MP too.

I know this has been discussed already on this thread.

There's a difference between earnings from say continuing some work in a profession where you need to keep qualifications up, and so called "work" like well paid directorships: or the questionable work in the media that we looked up above:

or payment for "speaking engagements" that seems somewhat excessive...

Whilst still an MP, Boris Johnson earned £1m from speaking engagements since leaving Downing Street

*An update to the MPs' register of interests showed Mr Johnson had received more than £750,000 in fees ….
……….for three speeches given in November* (2022)

Yes, thats £250.000 for a speech Is this not a "gift"?

news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-earns-1m-from-speaking-engagements-since-leaving-downing-street-12768139

People willing to pay, and it's within rules,what is the problem. Boris is not the problem, he's been and gone.
Labour are now the problem, not so whiter than white eh.

You’ve clearly not looked at the link I provided, the issue is endemic, not party specific. You can look up any MP from 2019 onwards. It’s an eye opener.

Oh that's big of them no longer accepting gifts of clothes, what about other gifts?

Fees are not gifts Wyllow. Yes, there are plenty of examples over the years so when Starmer was so quick to bash Boris he should have had more sense and more integrity then to have accepted gifts for himself and his wife.

The man's a hypocrite.

Wyllow3

I agree -

across the board.

It's also tied up with what you can earn as an MP too.

I know this has been discussed already on this thread.

There's a difference between earnings from say continuing some work in a profession where you need to keep qualifications up, and so called "work" like well paid directorships: or the questionable work in the media that we looked up above:

or payment for "speaking engagements" that seems somewhat excessive...

Whilst still an MP, Boris Johnson earned £1m from speaking engagements since leaving Downing Street

*An update to the MPs' register of interests showed Mr Johnson had received more than £750,000 in fees ….
……….for three speeches given in November* (2022)

Yes, thats £250.000 for a speech Is this not a "gift"?

news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-earns-1m-from-speaking-engagements-since-leaving-downing-street-12768139

People willing to pay, and it's within rules,what is the problem. Boris is not the problem, he's been and gone.
Labour are now the problem, not so whiter than white eh.

What, £250.000 worth, 2.5 times of a year of Starmer's spending for one evening?

It's a gift with a legal label on, nothing more.

Wyllow3, Boris probably gives a very impressive speech, he is a clever man.

Lisaangel10

The news tonight is that Keir Starmer, Rachel Thieves and Angela Rayner have all stated that they will no longer accept gifts of clothes.

Probably no more room in their wardrobes.

I agree -

across the board.

It's also tied up with what you can earn as an MP too.

I know this has been discussed already on this thread.

There's a difference between earnings from say continuing some work in a profession where you need to keep qualifications up, and so called "work" like well paid directorships: or the questionable work in the media that we looked up above:

or payment for "speaking engagements" that seems somewhat excessive...

Whilst still an MP, Boris Johnson earned £1m from speaking engagements since leaving Downing Street

*An update to the MPs' register of interests showed Mr Johnson had received more than £750,000 in fees ….
……….for three speeches given in November* (2022)

Yes, thats £250.000 for a speech Is this not a "gift"?

news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-earns-1m-from-speaking-engagements-since-leaving-downing-street-12768139

ronib

What kind of government is so super sensitive over adverse comments on free clothing? There are plenty of comments about pensioner poverty so let’s hope the government can revisit that too?

Yes, maybe if pensioners should not receive money for something they can afford themselves, apply the same rule to MPs.

What kind of government is so super sensitive over adverse comments on free clothing? There are plenty of comments about pensioner poverty so let’s hope the government can revisit that too?

The news tonight is that Keir Starmer, Rachel Thieves and Angela Rayner have all stated that they will no longer accept gifts of clothes.

The same is true of Jenricks £50.000 + cash gifts, we'll never know what they went on!

No point just bashing Starmer on this - plenty of examples over the last few years.

I think it's about time to look at all the MP gifts and cut them.

Time for a shift in what has been taken for granted for years. Its the Labour conference coming up and I know there are many who'd like to see change on this custom and practice

Mollygo

No more clothing gifts for PM and ministers. Doesn’t mention spouses clothing.
Clothing is so visible. No mention of other gifts.

You don't think he's going to give up his hospitality freebie at the Emirates and other football grounds or tickets for him and his family to Taylor Swift concerts and the like do you? That he could attend all these events by paying for them like everyone else seems to be beyond his understanding. I thought better of him, but you live and learn, sadly.

(Was answering cash for clothes)

Good - I hope they will now take it further.

But its when you read the declarations its the non specific cash gifts that raise big ??

MaizieD

There are many who suspect that the Lansley reforms in 2012 were designed with the privatisation of the NHS in mind. Tories certainly didn't do much to improve the NHS since then.

There are many who suspect that the Lansley reforms in 2012 were designed with the privatisation of the NHS in mind.

Yes - it was said so at the time, I remember.

valdavi

I also think the internal market hasn't worked how it might have. It has probably driven improvements in efficiency in many areas, but payments for services can be politically skewed & not enough notice is taken of the clinical leaders within those services when these "incentives" to do things a certain way are devised. It's a good idea on paper but healthcare is so complex & does not equate to manufacturing & selling baked beans. There's a lot of data but not enough care in interpreting it (or the analysts interpreting it don't understand the clinical factors or even the admin factors sometimes, that can affect it)

It's a good idea on paper but healthcare is so complex & does not equate to manufacturing & selling baked beans

Quite.

No more clothing gifts for PM and ministers. Doesn’t mention spouses clothing.
Clothing is so visible. No mention of other gifts.

Interesting report on the news tonight about gifts to ministers.

There are many who suspect that the Lansley reforms in 2012 were designed with the privatisation of the NHS in mind. Tories certainly didn't do much to improve the NHS since then.