Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

Niche interest, here’s the article about the need for major refurbishment.
www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/history-10-downing-street

You’ve confused the flats ronib. Boris Johnson lived in Number 11, Sunak chose to live in Number 10, which he had previously lived in when he was Chancellor. He paid himself for new soft furnishings when he became PM, for which, good on him. I can’t find it in the public domain whether the annual parliamentary redecoration allowances were also spent or not, but I imagine he had already upgraded No. 10 as Chancellor, and was only out of it during Liz Truss’ short tenure when Kwasi Kwarteng moved in. I assume the Johnson horrors at No. 11 were removed under Liz Truss because the wallpaper was already peeling,, with Jeremy Hunt completing the job (not personally I would guess!).

There’s a bigger problem with Downing Street apparently, as it requires a structural refurbishment, which successive PMs have put off, preferring to paper over the cracks.

Johnson left the wallpaper behind at no 10 Downing Street. Starmer is physically wearing his gifts on his own back. It’s said Sunak paid out of his own pocket for no 10 to be redecorated. If he had, it makes a point doesn’t it?

MissAdventure
I've read regarding the cost of Starmers freebies is still £12000 less than Johnsons living room do over.

But does it being less make it more acceptable to do it?

MissAdventure

I've read regarding the cost of Starmers freebies is still £12000 less than Johnsons living room do over.

There is time yet

eggplant

*Boris is looking like an amateur next to this lot*

What Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson did is in a completely different league. He destroyed hope and decency.

Perhaps Trump and Nigel will come to the recue.

Hope so

MayBee70

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I see the nurses have just rejected the offered 5.5% pay increase. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Strange how, not long ago people were on their doorsteps clapping for nurses who were risking their lives to save us and now they’re resenting the fact that they want to be paid a decent wage.

👏👏👏

Well of course the nurses are going to reject 5.5 percent when doctors were awarded 22 percent. It is not that difficult to understand.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I see the nurses have just rejected the offered 5.5% pay increase. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Strange how, not long ago people were on their doorsteps clapping for nurses who were risking their lives to save us and now they’re resenting the fact that they want to be paid a decent wage.

GrannyGravy13

I have seen GN condemnation of all MPs who take donor gifts whatever party they belong to.

They nearly all do take donations and gifts, so condemning one is condemning all who do the same in my book. I think Kemi Badenoch was wise today to say she’d done it, because at least that way she’s on the front foot.

MaizieD

Lisaangel10

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I see the nurses have just rejected the offered 5.5% pay increase. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Of course they’ll get it. Corbyn caved in to train drivers and doctors so nurses want it too.

Corbyn caved in to train drivers and doctors did he?

Interesting....

Senior moment, so sorry! 🤭 obviously I meant Starmer.

Lisaangel10

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I see the nurses have just rejected the offered 5.5% pay increase. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Of course they’ll get it. Corbyn caved in to train drivers and doctors so nurses want it too.

Corbyn caved in to train drivers and doctors did he?

Interesting....

I have seen GN condemnation of all MPs who take donor gifts whatever party they belong to.

I'm waiting to see if Robert Jenrick's well over £100.000 since July in gifts will emerge as part of the Conservative Leadership choices, especially if he becomes leader. It's all there in his declarations but somehow the DM has somehow missed it.....where are the GN's decrying this? disingenuous?

Yes, funny that isn’t it Casdon
Perhaps the DM and Gransnetters are just biding their time, and they will come out in criticism of Jenrick with the same venom they have shown for KS.

We’ll have to see … not holding my breath!

maddyfour not all Barristers are equal in terms of salary, Starmer went into Criminal defence, specialising in Human rights which is very poorly paid compared to those who go into
Corporate law, intellectual law or Tax law for eg.

Donations to the party machine are not currently specific to electioneering maddyfour. If you look at the declaration of MP interests it says that the declared benefits of Tory MPs excludes donations or gifts from the party’s own coffers. So there would need to be a huge change to the whole process. I agree that ideally it should all cease, but I don’t see it happening, it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

I don’t actually care which political party a person is in, elected MPs should not be taking personal gifts at all, ever, from anyone. Clothing, wallpaper, glasses, parties paid for, tickets to sports events and even Taylor Swift concerts are absolutely not acceptable. At all. Ever. Under no circumstances whatsoever.

Donations to the party machine to fund electioneering are different and I have no objection to that.

Starmer is rich. It doesn’t matter whether individuals believe it or not. Senior barristers, especially those who achieve KC, earn a huge amount. I know this because my relative is a senior barrister. Then once Starmer was head of the Crown Prosecution Service he would also have received a handsome salary, plus much kudos in that role. When he became an MP he would have taken a massive drop in earnings, although he would have earned more as Leader of the Opposition and obviously more as PM. Nonetheless the salary of PM is poor compared to the earnings of a senior barrister. Make no mistake about it, Starmer is rich, due to his earnings as a KC. There can be no mistake.

I'm sure reporters are trawling through the declaration of interests looking for nuggets as I type! However, if the general public don't want political parties to be supported by donations, we'll have to have a system where they are given money out of taxation tbh I doubt the Conservatives would like that. as they would lose out quite considerably.
"Frank Hester, whose company has received £427.7m in government contracts since 2016, has donated £15.3m to the Conservatives since 2023."
GG13 I can't find any hard evidence to support Starmer's net worth being £7.7m, it seems to be totally reliant on an estimate published by someone which is being repeated by lots of different media but you might have something concrete?

It’s custom and practice for the vast majority of MPs Mollygo, and they won’t want to lose it, whatever party they belong to.

Not a good idea Kemi.
You could almost be a LP minister with that excuse.

Wyllow3

LizzieDrip

I’m sure the media will be researching comparisons between politicians and parties as we speak. It will probably hit as the Tory conference starts

Casdon it will be interesting to see if the media presents any ‘revelations’ about Tory politicians accepting freebies. Somehow, I doubt the Daily Mail et al will make it front page ‘news’ like they have done with KS!

I'm waiting to see if Robert Jenrick's well over £100.000 since July in gifts will emerge as part of the Conservative Leadership choices, especially if he becomes leader.

It's all there in his declarations but somehow the DM has somehow missed it.....where are the GN's decrying this? disingenuous?

It’s started - Kemi is coming out fighting!
news.sky.com/story/kemi-badenoch-defends-mps-taking-freebies-as-way-to-spend-time-with-family-13220838

FriedGreenTomatoes2

The Labour peer at the centre of a sleaze row has told a SKY journalist not to ask him about donations, saying “this isn’t nice”.

Of course he has 🤣🤣🤣

The Labour peer at the centre of a sleaze row has told a SKY journalist not to ask him about donations, saying “this isn’t nice”.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I see the nurses have just rejected the offered 5.5% pay increase. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Of course they’ll get it. Corbyn caved in to train drivers and doctors so nurses want it too.

LizzieDrip

^I’m sure the media will be researching comparisons between politicians and parties as we speak. It will probably hit as the Tory conference starts^

Casdon it will be interesting to see if the media presents any ‘revelations’ about Tory politicians accepting freebies. Somehow, I doubt the Daily Mail et al will make it front page ‘news’ like they have done with KS!

The Guardian will though.

All donations are there to be scrutinised.

The Government of the day will always be under more scrutiny than any opposition parties, and rightly so