to believe Lady Starmer should pay for her own clothes and personal stylists?

So imprisoning people literally for words becomes acceptable?

Yes, when the words are used to incite riot. Words are literally the only way you can incite riot.

The mistake people made was to this KS was different... he's not.

So imprisoning people literally for words becomes acceptable?

it is communism 101 and the world is rightly concerned about this government. A big over reach.

They say these words were inciting riots, but if you take a cold hard look at the actual words people have been imprisoned for, they are unpalatable opinions.

p.s. Hew Edwards not in prison

Can't she afford her own frocks?
Of course, frocks for rich people are far more important than heating for elderly people. I mean, my elderly mother in law is worried already about affording her gas bill this winter, but as long as Starmer's got his new snazzy suits and his missus is dressed to the nines.....

Does anyone know if they pay tax on “donations” they receive??

Is the Taxpayer paying for her dresses? No. So there shouldn't be any need for anyone to get their panties in a wad over this. Save your energies to fight against the damage Labour have inflicted on pensioners instead. That is, taking money from the needy to give to those who are already earning over £80k a year.
Pick your battles otherwise you'll have no energy left when you do need to fight something really worth while.

I don’t think they had a choice and had to use strong deterrent to lock up and put people off rioting, it was out of control, not fair on the police and was horrible for anyone living in those places.

However, I am not so naive as to believe some of those people were just stupid and disappointed by the football not coming home!

in the space of a few weeks he’s imprisoned people for opinions on social media

Inciting riot, you mean, not “opinions on social media”.

It is a bit ridiculous though that the royal family have a huge budget for wardrobe and the PM and wife don’t? Is that really true? Because the royals being turned out immaculately does create an expectation somehow. Also why not showcase like young fashion, for example. Victoria could pull that off.

This annoys me because we have it drilled into us at work to declare absolutely everything and anything from clients, to not trade stock in our SIPPs without telling HR etc etc - the list goes on and one and both DH and I stick to it religiously. So why the hell they cannot just follow the bloody rules like the rest of us? It’s incredibly annoying! One rule for them, and one rule for the rest of us.

I don’t even mind the dresses - what I mind is them being so useless not to declare it in the first place!

Everyone knows at a basic level why rich people ‘give’ gifts to politicians.

It is staggeringly naive to think this is ok. He has the power to change laws and spend tax payers money! And he’s being bought! Literally.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Kier Starmer really is the worst type of leftie - the suburban, educated male with a patronising tone and virtuous posturing. Not quite as bad as James O’Brien but cut from the same cloth. I am surprised at just how bad he actually is though, I hoped I was going to be proved wrong about him and he was harmless enough, but in the space of a few weeks he’s imprisoned people for opinions on social media (which is unbelievably bad that I am astounded it’s even happened), he’s lied about pensioners and their heating allowance and already been bribed with fancy goods by rich and powerful people,
,

Accepting freebies, whether for oneself or others (even if you are the King!) does leave you open to - or at least create the perception that you’re open to - undue influence / that the donor expects something in return. I wish they’d avoid that Like Caesar’s wife, please please can our leaders behave in such a way as to provide us with moral leadership, such that they’re beyond suspicion.

I think it's also worth remembering that the PM's housing costs are covered too which will include utilities, maintenance and decoration. I doubt they pay the Number 10 gardener out if their own pocket either. There will be many expenses covered by the job which everyone else has to pay for so the good, but not staggering salary, will go a lot further than someone else earning the same and paying for everything themselves.

I’m a little sorry for them. It’s a hard and in many ways a thankless role. He has a massive task ahead and lots of stress and misery. The PM’s wife suffers secondhand British prime ministers are very underpaid. However, if you take the job, then you really ought to live within your means, without recourse to others.

There may be nothing illegal about what they have done/ accepted, but, as a lawyer and public servant of many years standing, it seems to me odd that the PM didn’t see that it is profoundly unwise to create the slightest perception of ‘snouts in the trough ‘, undue influence, conflict of interest etc. They did of course ‘declare ‘ the gift as required, if a little late - but really, should it have been accepted?

I do think there should be an allowance as wearing nice clothing is not exactly optional at that level.

I’m not sure I agree with this. The PM’s paid a good salary, not staggering but definitely good, salary and he is a representative of the people. He should clothe himself out of that, just like everyone else. It shouldn’t matter if his unelected spouse doesn’t look like an Instagram queen as long as she’s neat and personable. Sure, she’ll have to get togged up for the occasional black tie do but just rent then.
We have the Royal Family, who we pay handsomely, if we need anyone to showcase British fashion.

It might cost them a bit now, but surely their time in No10 is also an investment.

Every single past PM has made millions once out of office.

I think it was unwise but not indefensible. They've got a fuck ton of stuff to do, sorting outfits must be a pain in the arse. I do think there should be an allowance as wearing nice clothing is not exactly optional at that level.

I don't think this level of sleaze is in any way comparable to COVID contracts etc.

100% agree. We hadn't experienced a Labour party under scrutiny with the social media we have now and when the Tories were in power, Starmer and co kept telling us the left were so much more honest, pious, non-corrupt and people sucked it up, especially the young.

The Labour party are no friend unless you are a militant unionist ready to hold the country to ransom. Or a misfit to society, feckless or here illegally.

Exactly. She'd have gained a lot of respect by wearing her own clothes plus rented within her own budget. And why the heck Keir Starmer felt he needed a couple of free pairs of glasses, I'll never understand.

This is overstating things, you don't need to be that wealthy to buy a few dresses and work clothes

Loads of people do it and will have comparable income / wealth and look good at work

For a high level black tie you can always rent if you won't wear it again, saves waste anyway

He's not hurting 😆

They can afford their own clothes. The whole thing is just so weird. WHY is this guy buying clothes and glasses for a wealthy couple?

I agree. I’ve never voted anything but Labour.

So it does seem to be true, and was already commented on in newspapers a while ago.

It's indefensible