Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

Boris Johnson had his flat decoration paid for by a doner - that one thing cost over £100,000. The media did not vilify him
Well, actually they did!
The system allows for redecoration of the part of No.10 used by the PM - as it does not belong to him, he cannot take it with him so however OTT, crass or tasteless his spending on it, it is not in fact a personal gift (any more than the choice of -possibly priceless- paintings the FCO, the Treasury, Downing Street, the Home Office, Scottish or Welsh Offices are allowed to choose to hang on their walls) . He can’t take it with him.

My reading of Lizzie's post was of a frustrated tongue in cheek!

Rosie51

LizzieDrip are you saying Starmer hasn't accepted all these freebies, that the media are lying?
As for take us back into the EU, what makes you think its guaranteed all 27 countries would vote yes to having the UK back in? We were refused entry for enough years before finally joining. I wish we'd never left, I voted remain, but appreciate rejoining will not be easy, and likely won't happen in my lifetime.

I would give a lot to be back in the EU! It has all gone down the pan since we left. I wonder how many people who voted to leave regret their choice now! Lots, I would imagine.
(I know this isn’t a political thread but just had to say! Apologies!)

No I don’t find it degrading.

During the 5 years that he was leader of the opposition (2019 - 2024) Keir Starmer took ‘gifts & donations’ totalling approx £100,000. The entire media have vilified him for this. Boris Johnson had his flat decoration paid for by a doner - that one thing cost over £100,000. The media did not vilify him!

What I find degrading is that the media appears to be running this country through lies, propaganda and gaslighting … and people are falling for it.

LizzieDrip are you saying Starmer hasn't accepted all these freebies, that the media are lying?
As for take us back into the EU, what makes you think its guaranteed all 27 countries would vote yes to having the UK back in? We were refused entry for enough years before finally joining. I wish we'd never left, I voted remain, but appreciate rejoining will not be easy, and likely won't happen in my lifetime.

Wyllow3

RosiesMaw2

Hear, hear.
I had had hopes of Starmer as a man of principle after all the shenanigans at No 10 under the Tories.
There are other freebies that need to bite the dust too - while Leader of the Opposition he argued that reasons of security necessitated the (freeby) Arsenal hospitality box. Sunak, PM at the time was photographed in the stands along with the hoi polloi . Come on, what does this say to the decent working people who form (or used to) the spine of the Labour movement?
Did it all go south with Tony Blair?

Sunak was actually in the mood Hospitality Stand when "caught on camera"

www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/rishi-sunak-southampton-plymouth-championship-31770672

This was the pic I was referring to, I stand corrected in the other instance

No, just wrong - one made by any MP cashing in on the gifts angle and still doing so (but just not in the right wing media headlamps)

LizzieDrip I haven't been sucked into any 'trap' - I have read the news, and there appears to be no dispute about what has happened. KS has not denied that he and his wife have been dressed using another person's money. I am not 'moaning about freebies' - I simply find it degrading - don't you?

He was on local tv the other night promising the north east he hasn’t forgotten about us. However it does seem that way saddened that I thought he could help this area which struggles on its own. Time will tell.

The media will do everything in its (considerable) power to bring down Keir Starmer and the LP. Congratulations to all Grans Netters who have been sucked into the media trap. With the entire media propaganda machine against them, the LP will probably not win the next election so, IMO, Starmer should now throw caution to the wind and be brave - take us back into the EU; tax the wealthy; pump money into the NHS; take money from energy giant shareholders; welcome immigrants.

Be a radical socialist Keir, then for 5 years at least, some of us will live in the country that we want. After that, the Tories will be back in power and those currently moaning about freebies will have what they wish for.

I think quite a lot of Labour Party members will put the view that a break with the past has to be made on freebies as the L party conference starts tomorrow and applaud this. Politicians generally have to move away from the years old public complaint "they're all the same".....

They are all blooming hypocrites! Taking freebies like that and yet cutting the winter fuel payments for the elderly and needy. Sorry but they all make me sick!

him being Tony Blair

Quote from source

"Prime Minister Rishi Sunak left fans surprised as TV cameras showed him in the hospitality section of the stands during Southampton's Championship fixture on Friday night"

I just think it's the political class, they're pretty interchangeable, different snouts but the trough remains the same. Only we're fed this myth that Labour is a party of high ideals. There are of course individuals across the political spectrum who are honourable, and I'm sure there are those who were once. I remember reading that Tony Blair was quite different before he was elevated to the heady heights, I think the old adage of power corrupts is spot on, look how grabby the Blairs turned out to be. Sometimes I don't see a lot of difference between some politicians and the Kardashians in the way they line their pockets for jist being in the public domain. No! having put my faith in him, never again, I remain cynical about the lot of them. Keir Starmer has been shamed into not taking anymore freebies, otherwise left to his own devices I'm sure he'd have continued that "because I'm worth it" was his view a short while ago. What is truly remarkable is how far removed they are from public opinion. Shocking!

correction - "Sunak was actually in the grounds etc)

so all the hoo-ha about man of the people etc.....

RosiesMaw2

Hear, hear.
I had had hopes of Starmer as a man of principle after all the shenanigans at No 10 under the Tories.
There are other freebies that need to bite the dust too - while Leader of the Opposition he argued that reasons of security necessitated the (freeby) Arsenal hospitality box. Sunak, PM at the time was photographed in the stands along with the hoi polloi . Come on, what does this say to the decent working people who form (or used to) the spine of the Labour movement?
Did it all go south with Tony Blair?

Sunak was actually in the mood Hospitality Stand when "caught on camera"

www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/rishi-sunak-southampton-plymouth-championship-31770672

MaizieD

Lisaangel10

Andrew Neale has just written a long article entitled “ I have never known a Govt that has slurped down the drain so quickly.” Worth a read. Daily Mail.

Gosh, Andrew Neil has written an anti government piece for the Daily Mail.

Well, colour me surprised 😁

You can be unsurprised but recognise it’s true.

BigBopper

Do you all rmember the carry on about Angela Raynors suit a few weeks ago, well it turned out that it was given to her by a store. If that suit is the type of clothes the store sells then I will definitely be avoiding it.

Maybe it wasn’t selling well so needed an airing in the public gaze?😄

Baggs

Grantanow

A bad mistake and badly handled but it's a distraction from the real issues facing the UK.

Rich people being greedy and allowing themselves to be influenced by unelected others (the donors – no political "freebie" comes without reciprocal expectations) is not a distraction. It is definitely worthy of attention as several Labout MPs have shown by speaking out about it.

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️
Oh how we need the “like” emoji! 👏👏👍👍🙏

Smileless2012

I'm beginning to think he's not very bright .

Me too.

Lisaangel10

Andrew Neale has just written a long article entitled “ I have never known a Govt that has slurped down the drain so quickly.” Worth a read. Daily Mail.

Gosh, Andrew Neil has written an anti government piece for the Daily Mail.

Well, colour me surprised 😁

winterwhite

Well insisting on declaring and revealing it is how he knows about it so we can’t say it wasn’t a distraction.
Someone -? Sue Grey the queen of ethics - should have stopped him falling into this avoidable trap. I’m prepared to believe he fell into it through inattention in early days with so much else going on.

Perhaps Sue Gray sees that as beneath her £170,000 p.a. pay grade?

He would have to stand down if he was an Australian politician. Never liked him, sometimes these gut feelings are correct. He’ll stay, obviously, just hope things improve . Not a good start for a holier than thou Labour man.

LovesBach

I expected a lot of this man and his government - I now feel disappointed, to put it mildly.

Me too. I voted for him and his party in all good faith.

A lot of bad things have already happened which can't be denied - but how much is stirred up by right wing media - it is hard to work out.