Lord Waheed Alli, has he bought the government?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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,

LizzieDrip

GG I did start a thread about Jenrick’s donations. It received 42 comments🤷‍♀️

Indeed you did, I remember posting on it.

Do you think it didn’t receive a lot of interest because he maybe/maybe not the next leader of the opposition as opposed to KS being the current PM?

I must admit I am fed up with the majority of MP’s whatever colour rosette they wear. All I hear are sound bites, and blustering, perhaps I was naive hoping that things would change…

Unless there is a massive improvement in political standards and morals in the coming years not sure I will vote in another GE.

GG I did start a thread about Jenrick’s donations. It received 42 comments🤷‍♀️

Wyllow3

But there is press bias as things stand - Robert Jenricks "gifts" list and Badenhoch's use of a home should be as discussed as much as any other.

I agree, I think you should start a thread.

But there is press bias as things stand - Robert Jenricks "gifts" list and Badenhoch's use of a home should be as discussed as much as any other.

Iam64

No one is supporting bribery. We are discussing what constitutes bribery and what is simply a friendly gift

This, in terms of future policy and guidelines, is surely what matters.

The optics of this are a disaster for the Labour Party, more so due to them continuously lambasting and calling out the previous Government for accepting donations and freebies.

I recall that the calling out of the previous government was for the blatant rewarding of their donors with contracts, favours and honours..

Labour hasn't yet shown signs of doing this, even though plenty of people believe that they will. I'd rather wait for tangible proof of favours for Labour donors before condemning them.

GrannyGravy13

Iam64 the wallpaper was wrong, the tickets were wrong, another man paying for your wife’s clothes are wrong.

The optics of this are a disaster for the Labour Party, more so due to them continuously lambasting and calling out the previous Government for accepting donations and freebies.

The people responsible for the LP’s PR and spin need to either up their game or be replaced.

The excuses are quite sad really.

So we can say they are having an affair ?

In the spirit of balance:

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/kemi-badenoch-running-her-leadership-campaign-from-home-of-wealthy-donor-383643/amp/

Keir Starmer borrowed (and declared) the London flat of a Labour donor - absolutely vilified by MSM and SM.

Kemi Badenoch borrows (currently undeclared) the London home of a Conservative donor - media silence🤷‍♀️

As Lord Alli’s name has been all over the media for weeks, in the spirit of balance, Badenoch’s benefactor is Neil Record - multi millionaire Tuffton Street ‘guru’ and chair of a ‘climate denying’ organisation.

I don’t believe accepting gifts should be allowed. However, it can be done privately and I daresay there’s much we don’t know.

No truer saying than “politics is a dirty business”. Self serving politicians are aplenty and it’s a shame. That’s not say all MP’s have their snouts in the trough but many on both sides of the house do.

Well then we agree Casdon.

GrannyGravy13

eazybee

Perfectly simple: donations made either to Party HQ or to the local branch of the association; used for campaign expenses. No gifts, accommodation, presents as operates in most large and small associations. Not difficult.

Agree 👍🏻

I agree too, but we have to recognise that the party funding system is also wide open to personal gifts and donations, that’s why I highlighted that section. It’s the opposite of simple to go down the route eazybee proposed, without dismantling the whole political funding system.

maddyfour

You are guilty of defending Starmer just because it suits your particular political agenda yourself.

I, on the other hand, have repeatedly said that this practice is despicable. I have said that any politician who is receiving gifts, should not be doing so. I have mentioned Conservative MPs too. I have repeatedly said that this practice is immoral and I have repeatedly said it needs to be stopped. Nothing to do with any political party. Everything to do with the practice. You are accusing me of exactly what you are doing yourself. I have seen no condemnation from you about this practice!

I’m not defending anybody, I’m saying the system is the issue. I have also said from the beginning that this system is corrupt, and I do not support what Starmer et al have done. Check my posts for proof. The more I’ve found out about the system, the more I’ve understood how it works, and has worked. That’s why posts which don’t acknowledge how endemic, longstanding, and complex to resolve this issue and instead pinpoint specific actions, frustrate me.

No one is supporting bribery. We are discussing what constitutes bribery and what is simply a friendly gift

eazybee

Perfectly simple: donations made either to Party HQ or to the local branch of the association; used for campaign expenses. No gifts, accommodation, presents as operates in most large and small associations. Not difficult.

Agree 👍🏻

You are guilty of defending Starmer just because it suits your particular political agenda yourself.

I, on the other hand, have repeatedly said that this practice is despicable. I have said that any politician who is receiving gifts, should not be doing so. I have mentioned Conservative MPs too. I have repeatedly said that this practice is immoral and I have repeatedly said it needs to be stopped. Nothing to do with any political party. Everything to do with the practice. You are accusing me of exactly what you are doing yourself. I have seen no condemnation from you about this practice!