Starmer son finds a quiet place to study for GCSEs

Oh cmon, you can rent those places. And confidentially. Plenty of celebs do. There is no need for freebies.

Accepting clothes was stupid and looks a bit pathetic. To me, accepting the loan of a safe, secure and flexible place to stay for his family who felt unsafe after protesters were not just turning up outside their house but were coming right up to the front door is different. The polls made it obvious that they would be in number ten by early July so having a friend offer his place that was comfortable, safe, secure & flexible must have seemed ideal. Going back to the house after exams only to move again to Downing Street would be a lot of upheaval. I imagine everything has been declared now so the stories will die down.

Yes they weren’t camping outside his door, but even if they were it’s evidenced the man is lying. I can’t believe he’s basically blamed his own kid. That’s fucking low. Thought he wanted to protect them, instead he’s brought his own kid straight into the spotlight to protect himself. And the kid will know he’s lying.

The dates are off and what is with this idea media were camping outside Starmer's house anyway. That type of thing happens for scandals and door stepping

He was just doing scheduled events and photo ops, press had all the access they wanted. He was campaigning he wasn't in hiding.

It's a big old lie

And is that family friend a peer?

Were either of your parents in the running to be prime minister?

And so it carries on twisting and turning this morning…….i have to admire you Blossomtoes for your dogged ability to keep defending this.

Yes. That’s was a typo.

Obviously was leader of the opposition 🙄

I think you're remembering many years ago. See opening hours of Tate Library, Lambeth ( an area of deprivation ) and only small area there for study, usually full of adult people using computers etc. Apart from Tuesday when it's open till 8pm, it's not open at all in the evenings, Tuesdays, Sundays.

Opening times
Venue opening times
Monday
1pm to 6pm
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10am to 6pm
Thursday
10am to 8pm
Friday
10am to 6pm
Saturday
9am to 5pm
Sundays
Closed
Bank Holidays
Closed

He didn’t go to stay with a family friend, they had the flat , the owner wasn’t there, and starmer also lied and pretended he was at home when he was at the flat. He isn’t being honest. He’s done video calls from the flat, and the gcse timing is out. He’s lied as he took it for himself.

and the man is a multi millionaire, he doesn’t need to have his hand out. Or his wife with her free clothes. Or raynor with her freebie trips and clothes.

any decent hard working person can see they are on the take.

He was still leader of the opposition. 🤷‍♀️

Oh cmon, at least try to be credible. Everyone knew during the campaign Labour was getting in. If you thought otherwise you were alone.

At this point I have almost entirely given up on politics. There is no honesty, or integrity left. The conservatives were morally bankrupt and now we have this. Maybe not on as grand a scale but it is still very wrong.
All at a time when he has removed the winter fuel allowance whilst telling us all to prepare for hard choices.
He should have ensured his entire party was whiter than white to avoid any suggest of conflicts.

I bet no one would have been lending him the flat if he was leader of the opposition.

He was leader of the opposition when the flat was loaned. 🙄

TLDR but I went to stay with a family friend for a few weeks before my exams at 16. I was too distracted at home and needed to focus so I did exactly the same, and went home at weekends. Minus the clothes and glasses!

You're right the split is obvious

He won't give up football freebies, and no one will give up free stays in rich homes, tickets etc

Only clothes

@Portalsalways a good post.

I’m glad there’s scrutiny of this and that the media have suddenly found their fricking backbone again. This can’t be repeated.

They stayed well after GCSEs finished.

Why did 'his boy' need quiet then?

They stayed well after GCSEs finished.

It's not about the comparison with the Tories or breaking the rules. I think most of the electorate thought he wouldn't do any of grabby things that have come to light. The difference between nothing and something is big and arguably bigger that something and something bigger.

Would you not find is suspicious if said friend, was also buying you clothes, glasses, lending his properties and giving gifts for your work colleagues.

I am a bit confused. Was it just the son that went? Or was it the whole family? Bit unusual for a 16 year old to move out and go stay with a ‘family friend’ all alone. Further away from the school he needs to travel to for his exams. I am guessing it would be further away from his school. Was the starmers home surrounded by the media even when he was travelling for the election? What about his daughter? Was she fine to put up with the media outside?

What about his wife? Was she spending time between their house with their daughter and the flat with their son AND working full time?

Besides which, politicians aren’t normal people. The point is that Labour and KS specifically has spent years banging on about all the freebies and back handers the Tories got. Then do exactly the same.

In my job we deal with government contracts. There’s really strict rules about gifts to and from clients. Not a chance would we be allowed to gift clients clothes, glasses, places to stay and so on. I have to declare all gifts before I accept them. Even down to Christmas gifts they drop at the office, which could be 10 boxes of quality streets for the office. Personal gifts are a no no. There would be huge concern if someone was directly gifting me clothes, use of their properties and the. Doing the same for my colleagues and my teams.

Theres all sorts of tax rules around benefit in kind. KS got use of that flat directly, because of his job. I bet no one would have been lending him the flat if he was leader of the opposition.

If you are in politics there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Donations to a political party are fine. Gifts and favours to an individual are not. And if anyone believes all these gifts, including letting your child have use of a property, doesn’t have strings attached then they are incredibly naive. Politicians should be eager to make sure they always appear impartial.

Was it for the son or for the whole family? And if KS felt he needed to relocate his family, why didn’t he do the right thing and pay for it himself so no one could accuse him of being a hypocrite? Or accuse him of taking favours to further someone’s else agenda?

It’s not ok when the Tories do it. It’s not ok when Labour do it either.

Does anyone know what Lord Ally or whatever gets in return for these favours - at least it's not the Chinese or Iran!

I hope he got 9 As after his stay in the 18m penthouse flat

Oh well a Labour peer won't be seeking favours, it was merely a generous gift. Jolly nice for the boy and unlike the other gifts, not our business.

I’m inclined to agree with you. It would help Starmer no end if he changed the rules so that was the way it worked.

@Viewfrommyhouse He could not use Chequers until after the election! That was 4 July from memory. Too late for decision. For A levels, it has everything anyone could want!