Lord Waheed Alli, has he bought the government?

It’s the opposite of simple to go down the route eazybee proposed, without dismantling the whole political funding system.

Which is exactly what Labour is in a position to do, now,

Since this is "the" ongoing thread about the issues of gifts, donations, where to draw the line etc, I think Lizzie's revealing Badenhoch's use of a flat quite in place here on this thread
particularly because its "in the here and now" when the issues are hot topics on the press and of course known by Badenhoch.

BTW, I'm with you GG13 on "whatever colour rosette they wear just think its going to be difficult to define categories.

I m not bothered is it allowed just
why is it allowed The pm is rich as are many MPs Why do they not use the donations for the homeless or towards the black hole

Wouldn't that get them more votes. than new glasses has Starmer worn them yet

eazybee

^It’s the opposite of simple to go down the route eazybee proposed, without dismantling the whole political funding system.^

Which is exactly what Labour is in a position to do, now,

A government alone can’t fundamentally change governmental structures, this would affect the whole system, and would take many years to bring fully to fruition. A huge piece of work was done by the EU, it’s worth reading the conclusions (p53 on).
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/694836/IPOL_STU(2021)694836_EN.pdf
If the system is to be fundamentally changed, it will require cross party consensus, and buy in from the House of Lords, which would also be affected in the same way. I’m a cynic, and I don’t see anything other than minor tinkering in the next 20 years at least, whoever is in power.

In defence of Starmer, and I didn't even vote for him, his expenses must be horrendous. Living in London, expected to always look good etc. etc.
I rather suspect he just let all the freebies roll on without being totally aware of them all and the consequences when revealed to a hostile Press. He doesn't strike me as a materialistic man; just somewhat lax in letting Alli give too much.
Remember, Keir, no such thing as a free lunch.

The most vicious accusations come from a chap on GMB , a supporter of Farage, think his name is Wooten !

Oh come on. This man was a barrister, comfortable income; he knows all about accepting gifts and the trouble that can cause. After all, he spent five years preaching at the Tories for doing just that.
I am sure Lord Alli is extremely persuasive but Starmer was not some ingenue new to London; he must know Alli has an ulterior motive, which may well be to see Labour elected, but keep control once there.
Starmer has bought his party into disrepute by his foolishness and greed. The thing is, who exactly is briefing against him, and why? I would say, watch your back.

Using his children is acceptable, using his wife’s religious faith is acceptable?

Boz

In defence of Starmer, and I didn't even vote for him, his expenses must be horrendous. Living in London, expected to always look good etc. etc.
I rather suspect he just let all the freebies roll on without being totally aware of them all and the consequences when revealed to a hostile Press. He doesn't strike me as a materialistic man; just somewhat lax in letting Alli give too much.
Remember, Keir, no such thing as a free lunch.

That makes Starmer sound naïve.

I would never have described him as naïve. He's a very clever man and has had an impressive career before he entered politics, earning far more than he does as a politician.

He wasn't living on the breadline, unlike some pensioners who are going to feel the chill this winter.

Anniebach

Using his children is acceptable, using his wife’s religious faith is acceptable?

Nobody is saying that.

eazybee

Oh come on. This man was a barrister, comfortable income; he knows all about accepting gifts and the trouble that can cause. After all, he spent five years preaching at the Tories for doing just that.
I am sure Lord Alli is extremely persuasive but Starmer was not some ingenue new to London; he must know Alli has an ulterior motive, which may well be to see Labour elected, but keep control once there.
Starmer has bought his party into disrepute by his foolishness and greed. The thing is, who exactly is briefing against him, and why? I would say, watch your back.

Who do you think is briefing against Starmer eazybee, and do you think it is somebody or some organisation that wants to abolish donations and influencing of political parties?

KS and his wife must pull in an impressive salary between them.
What he accepted when LOTO wasn’t noticed but is now that he’s the PM. He’s also accepted more gifts and hospitality than many others.Not against the law we all know that but maybe time that it ended for all of them.Only money given to help an election or for the running of offices in future with checks now and then to see if all is above board.Nobody could object to that.No more free pop concerts, tickets to the ballet free designer gear or anything else.
Sir Keir! Should have gone to Specsavers.🤬

It’s public opinion, not to be sniffed at either that wants to abolish donations and influencing of political parties.

I'm afraid that I didn't notice 'public opinion' being quite so vociferous or sustained when Johnson was accepting gifts and holidays and attending parties in Italian properties belonging to the son of a KGB officer...

This is a deliberate campaign against Starmer and the government...

Definitely Mazie it is a vicious attack, no way was anything said about Johnson as vile as we now read of Starmer

MaizieD

I'm afraid that I didn't notice 'public opinion' being quite so vociferous or sustained when Johnson was accepting gifts and holidays and attending parties in Italian properties belonging to the son of a KGB officer...

This is a deliberate campaign against Starmer and the government...

True

Well it’s going to take a lot more than this minor skirmish to remove the government - don’t worry Starmer will be around for ages ….. or maybe worry depending on your political affiliation.

People have short memories, because this difficult start for the Labour government almost mirrors the big donations scandal there was when Tony Blair first came into power, with Bernie Ecclestone.

Goodness, what short memories!!

www.gransnet.com/info/search?q=Boris+Johnson+sleaze

www.gransnet.com/info/search?q=Tories+sleaze

Badenoch also accepted £10,000 from Neil Record (a climat change denier) and, just by coincidence I'm sure, has announced that she's in favour of backing down from Net Zero commitments.

I don’t see that anybody has denied what they have said before though Allira? We all take standpoints depending on our political allegiance, naturally.
The point I was making though was that there was a huge public scandal in 1997 regarding Bernie Ecclestone funding Labour’s election campaign, and it was thought then that it would see off Tony Blair. It didn’t. Here we are, almost 30 years later, numerous scandals later, and the ‘dubious’ donations are still coming. I don’t think this will be the reason for Starmer’s demise either - which will obviously come, as it does for them all.
I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s the system that has to change to avoid this happening again and again. I don’t think it will.

Casdon

I don’t see that anybody has denied what they have said before though Allira? We all take standpoints depending on our political allegiance, naturally.
The point I was making though was that there was a huge public scandal in 1997 regarding Bernie Ecclestone funding Labour’s election campaign, and it was thought then that it would see off Tony Blair. It didn’t. Here we are, almost 30 years later, numerous scandals later, and the ‘dubious’ donations are still coming. I don’t think this will be the reason for Starmer’s demise either - which will obviously come, as it does for them all.
I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s the system that has to change to avoid this happening again and again. I don’t think it will.

Of course they did!!

MaizieD
I'm afraid that I didn't notice 'public opinion' being quite so vociferous or sustained when Johnson was accepting gifts and holidays and attending parties in Italian properties belonging to the son of a KGB officer...

This is a deliberate campaign against Starmer and the government...

Not true.