Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

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.

sundowngirl

I heard that Rachel Reeves declared the donation she received for clothes as an 'office expense'! Perhaps I can claim for my dresses as an office expense on my tax return. Although I think the HMRC would have a different opinion

And guess where the money from the office and the clothes are coming from.
But IPSA probably approved it.

As an infant teacher many years ago I was not even allowed to claim for an overall to wear in art lessons, having had clothes ruined by paint, glue and glitter. The only person allowed to claim for work wear was the Headmistress, and she was so disgusted she ordered an overall for every member of the staff via one of the school equipment catalogues, paid for by capitation. Nowadays much of capitation goes on providing free schools meals.

I heard that Rachel Reeves declared the donation she received for clothes as an 'office expense'! Perhaps I can claim for my dresses as an office expense on my tax return. Although I think the HMRC would have a different opinion

A woman on TV last night said that no British designer would want to see Starmer wearing their clothes.

Lots of people could produce the Starmer look . . . If only someone would give them the clothes to do it -or leave them with enough money to do it.

looked

I wish we could edit!

mokryna

I liked the new Starmer look, very distinguished among the other leaders, much better than the Boris dress.
Who shocked the press in the 60s, when they wore elbow pads at the Cenotaph.

Liz Truss always look smart.

I'll leave it there.

I liked the new Starmer look, very distinguished among the other leaders, much better than the Boris dress.
Who shocked the press in the 60s, when they wore elbow pads at the Cenotaph.

Sorry - PMs' nicknames 🙂

It wasn't that long ago Starmer was shouting sleaze, sleaze, sleaze!
Now Angela Rayner has been accused of taking a free holiday in New York with a mate.
Are they Champagne socialists or just hypocrites?

Lisaangel10

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

Add it to the list of PM's nicknames!

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

Mrs Starmer does have a very good figure but fashion produced in the UK is virtually nil. It’s no good her wearing clothing by a British designer because very few would be able to afford it.

They will vote for reform for many reasons, one being that they feel let down by a labour party who seem to be behaving like the Tories.

Mollygo

^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.^

And another excuse . . .
She could be a wonderful ambassador for the British fashion industry, without receiving freebies. Unless her millionaire husband is too mean to buy them for her, and that accusation hasn’t arisen yet.

If she prefers to stay in the background, and I can understand that, she didn’t need the freebies anyway. I wonder how her staying in the background will look.
Non-appearance at football matches or concerts?

One thing is certain, the eyes of the media will be on the freebie fashions worn by the PM and his entourage, just as they were about AR’s outfit.
Maybe it’s all been a cunning plan to distract from any further attacks on pensioners that he has up his sleeve.

If Victoria hates football there's no reason why she should have to go to matches.

She could be a wonderful ambassador for the British fashion industry, without receiving freebies. Unless her millionaire husband is too mean to buy them for her, and that accusation hasn’t arisen yet.
Yes, with her figure she could make anything look stylish and could be an ambassador for British fashion.
I don't think much of M&S fashion is made in Britain any more.

Poor Boris could wear a suit worth a fortune and still not look stylish.

Dianne Abbott now putting the boot in.

“Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is “in the pocket of millionaires”, Diane Abbott has said on the eve of the party’s annual conference in Liverpool.

Ms Abbott, the veteran Left-winger, criticised the Prime Minister after a row over him accepting thousands of pounds for clothes from Lord Alli, a Labour peer and his biggest personal donor.

On Friday, Sir Keir promised that he would stop taking donations for clothes now that he was in office.

Angela Rayner, his deputy, and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, made the same pledge. Ms Reeves admitted this week she had received almost £7,500 for clothing since 2023 from a friend called Juliet Rosenfield, the widow of a Labour donor.

Criticising comments made by Ellie Reeves, the Chancellor’s sister and the Labour chairwoman, Ms Abbott wrote on X: “Ellie Reeves MP says ‘Labour’s general election victory was only possible because under Keir’s leadership we changed the party’. Changed it into an organisation whose leaders are in the pocket of millionaires?”

Blimey. She’s no fan!

Source The Telegraph today.

Opinions not options!

Just because ‘lots’ of people have a particular opinion doesn’t make it ‘true’. Also, it doesn’t make me follow their options - I have my own mind.

LizzieDrip it’s not just Granny Rose who has this opinion - take a look at the polls. It’s the worst start of any new government it would seem.

GrannyRose it’s your opinion that this government has ‘made a poor start’. I don’t believe that’s the case. And yes, let’s see what the next 4+ years brings - of course, we could all be given the moon on a stick and it still wouldn’t be good enough for the media and their followers🤷‍♀️

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.

And another excuse . . .
She could be a wonderful ambassador for the British fashion industry, without receiving freebies. Unless her millionaire husband is too mean to buy them for her, and that accusation hasn’t arisen yet.

If she prefers to stay in the background, and I can understand that, she didn’t need the freebies anyway. I wonder how her staying in the background will look.
Non-appearance at football matches or concerts?

One thing is certain, the eyes of the media will be on the freebie fashions worn by the PM and his entourage, just as they were about AR’s outfit.
Maybe it’s all been a cunning plan to distract from any further attacks on pensioners that he has up his sleeve.

LizzieDrip

I agree with you MayBee. The media is determined to vilify Keir Starmer and, by association, his wife, no matter what they do. This is already becoming a witch hunt, 11 weeks into his premiership.

But, as you say, in 5 years people will probably vote for Reform or some extreme, far right version of the Tory party. We’ll see how that pans out for the future of our country!

We’ve yet to see how this government pans out for the country. It’s certainly made a poor start but there is still four years and nine months for a miracle to happen.

She cannot avoid being involved in his political life. She may want to limit the time she gives but it would be a very unusual premiership if she didn’t sometimes accompany he husband when he was on official business.

I agree with you MayBee. The media is determined to vilify Keir Starmer and, by association, his wife, no matter what they do. This is already becoming a witch hunt, 11 weeks into his premiership.

But, as you say, in 5 years people will probably vote for Reform or some extreme, far right version of the Tory party. We’ll see how that pans out for the future of our country!