Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

eazybee

I thought donations, any size, were made to the Party branches and used for party needs, such as office equipment, extra staff, travel. additional heating in ramshackle accommodation, etc, not personal possessions. The system has clearly been abused as were MPs expenses.

Casdon totally agree and tbh I am struggling to understand why it's less acceptable to be bought some decent expensive clothes to wear for work and for public occasions than it is to have first class air tickets, expensive hotels or the use of a private helicopter given to you.

Why is it only now it's become an issue?

MissAdventure it’s only become an issue now because the UK media has made it so!

The media in this country is almost entirely right-wing and will make it their mission to discredit anything Labour politicians do … even though those same things were / are being done by Tory politicians.

Yes, I checked out the headlines a couple of days ago, and they were all virtually the same "New storm as Starmer... blah, blah, blah..."

Exactly MissAdventure🤷‍♀️ From The Sun to The Telegraph - all right-wing biased.

Interestingly, I listen to radio 4 news and they are giving the government the same sort of questions that they gave the Tories when they were in power. So much for the so called left wing bias of the BBC, they are just doing the job they should do ie holding people in power to account!

LizzieDrip

^Why is it only now it's become an issue?^

MissAdventure it’s only become an issue now because the UK media has made it so!

The media in this country is almost entirely right-wing and will make it their mission to discredit anything Labour politicians do … even though those same things were / are being done by Tory politicians.

Have you forgotten the media storm over Boris Johnson?
Short term memories!

Yes, I must have done.
His accepted donations seem to have been buried under some of the other stuff...

"Why has it become such an issue?"

Because Labour likes to send out the message that THEY are the party of high ideals and champions of those struggling and not tone deaf like Johnson and his cronies. They have been particularly inept in the dismissive way in brushing aside the furore surrounding their acceptance of what in many cases are luxury items, as if those are nothing much and it's just standard stuff, not good in the wake of the removal of the WFA, Particularly as they would have been all over it if they were still in opposition along with much rhetoric on how they would be different. Well not different enough! they are now tarnished with matching credentials so early into their tenure. So the mutterings of society's disillusioned of "same old! same old!" it's the political class. How many times does this need to be pointed out to BOTH sides and why can't they read the public's mood? they employ a whole army of advisers surely someone amongst that number cannot be so blind as to how such freebies are perceived in times of hardship. Strewth! and still it continues They've only stopped now in a rather a grudging way because of the media storm and yes plenty of criticisms in The Guardian, opinion isn't only shaped by the DM contrary to what some seem to perceive.

Those are valid points but what I object to are

failure to hold current conservative MP's to same standards

failure to publish the often small but positive advances the government is making. For example, how many know/read about this?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c243nll5jqpo

That's excellent!
As you say, it's unlikely to be noticed much, currently.

Wyllow3

Those are valid points but what I object to are

failure to hold current conservative MP's to same standards

failure to publish the often small but positive advances the government is making. For example, how many know/read about this?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c243nll5jqpo

The news coverage over Starmers clothes and glasses is like a dead cat strategy in reverse ie an attempt to stop the electorate see what progress the government is making.

Absolutely, MayBee.

I suggest we look closely at Keir Starmer's keynote speech this afternoon as he outlines "directions" - and beware more dead cat reporting. This morning had Yvette Cooper outlining measures to tackle knife crime for example.

I agree Wyllow and MayBee but, call me cynical, the media won’t be the slightest bit interested in any good that this government does. It certainly won’t be headline news!

I hope I’m wrong but …

Well, here is another "small but matters"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62m4g2drgdo

seen that one either? Aware of it?

These are really important changes Labour is making that will have a positive impact on people’s lives, yet they receive minimal media coverage. Having domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms is infinitely more important than KS’s suits!

Willow There was a tv programme on Sunday morning where this was discussed by a panel. I had no idea there were problems in this country but knew about it happening in the USA.

Willow …computer doesn’t allow me to type w y l l o w without altering it . Apologies

We've also not had discussion of the new workers rights/employment law proposals, currently now in the consultation process. Protection against hire/fire, zero hours contracts, carer's rights, forced 24/7 availability, and more.

TerriBull

"Why has it become such an issue?"

Because Labour likes to send out the message that THEY are the party of high ideals and champions of those struggling and not tone deaf like Johnson and his cronies. They have been particularly inept in the dismissive way in brushing aside the furore surrounding their acceptance of what in many cases are luxury items, as if those are nothing much and it's just standard stuff, not good in the wake of the removal of the WFA, Particularly as they would have been all over it if they were still in opposition along with much rhetoric on how they would be different. Well not different enough! they are now tarnished with matching credentials so early into their tenure. So the mutterings of society's disillusioned of "same old! same old!" it's the political class. How many times does this need to be pointed out to BOTH sides and why can't they read the public's mood? they employ a whole army of advisers surely someone amongst that number cannot be so blind as to how such freebies are perceived in times of hardship. Strewth! and still it continues They've only stopped now in a rather a grudging way because of the media storm and yes plenty of criticisms in The Guardian, opinion isn't only shaped by the DM contrary to what some seem to perceive.

So what you’re saying, to paraphrase, is that the gifts and donations are a non issue, but Labour are being hypocritical, and that’s what this media storm is all about? Seriously?

No problem, it happens often.

LizzieDrip

These are really important changes Labour is making that will have a positive impact on people’s lives, yet they receive minimal media coverage. Having domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms is infinitely more important than KS’s suits!

Yes and if he hadn’t been so busy accepting freebies, and doing things he criticised others for doing, we wouldn’t have heard about that.

Just like we never heard about anyone dancing, or buying their council house.

It's been non stop.

Mollygo

LizzieDrip

These are really important changes Labour is making that will have a positive impact on people’s lives, yet they receive minimal media coverage. Having domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms is infinitely more important than KS’s suits!

Yes and if he hadn’t been so busy accepting freebies, and doing things he criticised others for doing, we wouldn’t have heard about that.

So you negate good things which make a real difference because of bad things that don’t? That’s a strange way of thinking to my mind.

Yes and if he hadn’t been so busy accepting freebies, and doing things he criticised others for doing, we wouldn’t have heard about that

What???

MissAdventure

Just like we never heard about anyone dancing, or buying their council house.

It's been non stop.

But we did. Non-stop.

As for nicknames? Well how about greased piglet for one!
And not being married to Carrie before they 😮 had children and 😮 moved into No 10.