Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

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.

I think it's interesting that it is always assumed that donors want something back for their financial support. Lord Alli has been a long time supporter of the Labour party, perhaps he just believes in social justice? I'm not a member of the Labour party, never have been but I do have friends who are and they donate. They are quite wealthy and I suspect that what they donate, they won't miss but they do it because they believe the LP is better for the country. I donate to several charities because I support the work they do, is supporting a political party any different?

Okay the leader of the opposition is appointed to the privy council. So I would argue that Starmer should be held accountable for a gross breach of trust and accepting goods in excess of £140 per item. Not the best start is it?

Over the years, politicians of all hues have accepted and declared gifts. I can kind of see that senior politicians need to look presentable, I really struggled with Rayner’s New York soirée. But this latest one (Phillipson) has definitely tipped me over the edge. Most people are going to interpret these gifts as corruption. And as they say, perception is reality.

Okay foxie48 exactly what is the payoff for the donors?
£140 is the maximum value for specific gifts to be retained by ministers so perhaps someone has got round to reading the rules?
Given that Starmer was leader of the opposition at the time it’s an interesting question as to whether he was included in this rule.

Now it’s Bridget Phillipson. Another £14k accepted.

Boris is looking like an amateur next to this lot.

ronib

foxie48 I think the section 7.20 onwards is a real value to anyone trying to understand the rules. Make your own judgement.

My understanding is that these gifts were made prior to Starmer becoming Prime Minister so they were not subject to section 7.20 of the Ministerial code. Please correct me if I'm incorrect, I'm not an expert in these matters. They were however,, subject to being declared on the Parliamentary register of interests. I think he was unwise to accept gifts like these but he's not done anything wrong and it's very interesting to look through what MPs have declared. I think our parliamentarians are underpaid (compared to other countries) and I think ministers should get allowances for clothing as they do in most countries.
The son of a friend of mine got a post grad job with an investment bank, part of his induction was to be taken to a tailors in Savile Row for a suit fitting, taken to shops to buy suitable shirts, ties and shoes, all on expenses. All their graduate trainees got the same treatment! I therefore don't find it shocking that a long time supporter of Starmer with a great deal of money, might offer to kit him and Victoria out for his new job.

£140 is the limit I found in Section 7.20 on in the ministerial. Anything over that is not allowed- 😳

foxie48

Visgir1

Starmer is worth around 7 million.. He can afford a few new suits and Lady S a few frocks, or she could hire like Johnson's wife.
This could be his "Partygate"?
This isn't going to go away.
Same as WFA, then he gives Sue Grey a pensioner a big payrise, and it's only been a few weeks in office.

The question of whether he can afford to buy his own suits or not is not the issue here. If he couldn't afford to buy a few suits how would it change the issue?
Sue Grey is paid a salary commensurate with the role that she is performing, it is the PM who is being underpaid.

It’s part of the issue, and you just said in your previous post that you don’t want him to look like Man at C&A which means you think he couldn’t afford a well cut/bespoke suit.
As to Sue Grey being worth being paid more than the PM, it’s a moot point.
Unless money is donated solely for political ‘office’ use then I think none of them should accept gifts for personal use and I hope there’ll now be a conversation along those lines and then something put into parliamentary law to stop gifts/ freebies completely.Since politicians themselves need to agree on this, will it ever happen?🤬

foxie48 I think the section 7.20 onwards is a real value to anyone trying to understand the rules. Make your own judgement.

LizzieDrip

^This could be his "Partygate"?^

It’s not remotely comparable but, of course, the media will create the narrative that it is… and it won’t go away because the media will keep it alive!

Keir Starmer attended a barbecue in the 10 Downing Street garden after laying wreaths in Southport for the 3 little girls who were murdered……..

This could be his "Partygate"?

It’s not remotely comparable but, of course, the media will create the narrative that it is… and it won’t go away because the media will keep it alive!

Visgir1

Starmer is worth around 7 million.. He can afford a few new suits and Lady S a few frocks, or she could hire like Johnson's wife.
This could be his "Partygate"?
This isn't going to go away.
Same as WFA, then he gives Sue Grey a pensioner a big payrise, and it's only been a few weeks in office.

The question of whether he can afford to buy his own suits or not is not the issue here. If he couldn't afford to buy a few suits how would it change the issue?
Sue Grey is paid a salary commensurate with the role that she is performing, it is the PM who is being underpaid.

ronib

Have you read the ministerial code foxie48?

Not in it's entirety, but are you suggesting that Starmer or anyone else in his cabinet has "broken" the code, especially in respect of impartiality by accepting gifts? If so, who and how?

'Donations to MPs are “a feature of our politics”, Angela Rayner has insisted amid a row over Labour politicians accepting gifts and freebies.' This appeared on a news feed today, as a comment that AR has made to the BBC. I must be so naive - I really did think that such items would be regarded as harming impartiality, and should not be accepted. Another of my little fantasies, it seems.

The ministerial code does not have the force of law. Another anomaly then?
Goods under £140 are kept but anything over that is not. So the code states. Something a bit dodgy here?

Starmer is worth around 7 million.. He can afford a few new suits and Lady S a few frocks, or she could hire like Johnson's wife.
This could be his "Partygate"?
This isn't going to go away.
Same as WFA, then he gives Sue Grey a pensioner a big payrise, and it's only been a few weeks in office.

Have you read the ministerial code foxie48?

I don't have a problem with politicians who are on the world stage accepting gifts from donors as long as they are properly declared and subject to scrutiny and tbh I see no difference in accepting the use of a private helicopter (Sunak), air tickets and accommodation in the US to put Clacton on the world stage (Farage) than being given the money for a decent suit. If we don't want our politicians being given gifts then we should ban it, give them decent allowances for travel, accommodation and clothing. Even when they are off duty they can't travel or attend any function (including a football match) without security (unless your are Boris going to party with the KGB), Senior politicians of any party are required to attend all sorts of occasions often with their spouse and I want them to look good, not like man at C&A. He's currently paid less than he would as DPP and contrary to what some seem to think, we do not pay our politicians well, perhaps that's why some are such poor quality. I certainly don't want a system that only attracts people who are already wealthy or see it as an opportunity to make contacts so they can make money! It's also a pretty unstable career move. FGS lets punish those who break the law and stop pretending that senior politicians (of any party) must behave like Fred next door or Joan at the coffee shop to have any credibility.

There’s a written ministerial code covering this. I believe it has been broken many times.

25Avalon

I’ll have to take them to the charity shop then!

When I worked as a public servant you weren’t allowed to accept gifts and hospitality, to protect the organisation’s integrity. It should apply to all politicians as well. Additionally it’s hypocritical for one party to blame another and then do the same themselves. People were hoping for higher standards.

What do people expect, he’s gone back on everything he’s said 😩

Lisaangel10

I heard a new nickname for KS today, Free Gear Keir. 🤣

🤣🤣🤣🤣

TerriBull

I'd have been delighted if the milk had been snatched during my school days, I hated it!

Me too, I used to chew the straw so hardly any came out 🤣

GrannyRose15

To be quite honest I don’t care who pays for the PMs clothes as long as it isn’t me. Don’t like the idea of the donor getting privileges in exchange either. I also think the media are being very unkind to Victoria. Do we really want our country represented by a woman in a frumpy M&S frock? She could be a wonderful ambassador for the British fashion industry. As long as it is within the rules I can’t see what’s wrong with her accepting gifts of clothes.

Ambassador for pri-mark- after we have paid our energy bills, that’s all we will be able to afford 😩

Mollygo

Do remember that he only mentioned not taking clothes, or donations for clothes. There are other things, that are far less visible that he has made no such claim not to accept.

Now he has a new wardrobe