Starmer took donor’s gifts because there is no taxpayer funding for clothes

[MrsRobinsonsHandprints]

Mind-blowing

So I am disappointed in the hypocrisy and them not doing the right thing, but it all seems vastly different from the wholesale craven corruption of the Tories. Also again, the rules changed in 2022, so the headlines that say his freebies are higher than any other leader/pm aren't right either.

It's not ok and I agree if you talk the talk you should walk the walk, but the false equivalency and frothing about pigs in troughs and claims "they are all the same" seems disproportionate and to some degree confected. There is a difference between being held to account ethically, if not legally and for hypocrisy, and being condemned as abjectly corrupt. I think it's important to hold on to those distinctions.

That said the other shoe will probably drop and we'll find out shortly that David Lammy has bought his seven different mistresses a yacht each, using money ring-fenced for homeless badgers.

Nurses code of conduct prohibits accepting gifts from patients, other than very trivial, as it's considered unprofessional.

I'll just leave that there

It’s not Starmers fault. It’s all because of the 22m black hole that he couldn’t afford new glasses. His father was a toolmaker you know

Labour are exactly the same as the Tories and will also be involved in "wholesale corruption" . The expenses scandal proved that too. This scandal is worse however due to the mendacity of Labour pretending that they were more virtuous than the Tories in all areas. When they sadly aren't at all. So hypocrisy can also be added.

Free Gear Keir

😂Genius!

Ha

I've just seen him interviewed on the news, claiming that accepting the freebie hospitality tickets to Arsenal was a security issue and a personal sacrifice, because he would rather be watching from the stands. The level of entitlement and lack of integrity is breathtaking, as are the weaselly excuses. It's never actually entered his mind that he could either have accepted the fact that watching football matches on the television is the price to be paid for his incredibly fortunate position or he could have paid for his own hospitality package. Just remember every time he says that hard decisions have to be made, he's never talking about putting his hand in his own pocket. He's clearly one of those comfortably off people who feels incredibly hard done by because he is not mega-rich.

At least he’s not milking the public purse like the Tories. It’s costing us nothing and people are just envious. Most people snap up any perks they are offered. Why do we expect him to be different

Actually, most people don’t. Outside of politics that is. And the whole point is the gaping chasm between what he said his government would be like, and what they are like. That a trust and integrity issue. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

And it’s naive in the extreme to think that this isn’t going to cost the public purse money. A lot of money. These donations are not altruistic - they are made to garner favour and influence. It’s grubby behaviour, whichever party is doing it.

I understand that Labour voters are frustrated at the attention this is getting - because I am sure they feel more let down than most. No one wants to acknowledge they’ve had the wool pulled over their eyes. Especially when the rank and file have to buy their own wool 🤣

@Happyher I'm not envious at all. As I posted on a different thread, I own my business and there are no limits to what I CAN accept. What I DO accept though is zero. Any hospitality (including as it happens the apparently most coveted arsenal tickets) wine, hampers etc are divid up between my staff. Not because I HAVE to but because it’s the right thing to do. I’m not in the public eye in anyway, but I will not be bought by anyone. And as someone else posted, Nurses aren’t even allowed to accept gifts from relatives? But Free Gear Kier and Victoria Sponge are ok to “enjoy the perks” Please explain to me why it’s different for them???

I think this is the most depressingly cynical post so far on this thread. I suppose we get the politicians we deserve.

Having said that there does seem a general uproar from pretty much everyone else , including even the Guardian, saying that Labour's grubbing is immoral and hypocritical so there is still some hope.

Btw Angela R and her nice little holiday to New York! Lucky thing. What a treat. I wonder what she did (or will have to do) in return. No such thing as a free holiday!

I genuinely never thought that free gear Starmer would turn out to be so grabby, entitled and mired in freebie scandals. Not because I liked him and thought he could do no wrong, but because he's so stiff and buttoned up.

I can't believe he has turned up on TV and said he has to accept the Arsenal tickets.

Everyone makes choices. Lots of people can't watch a football game due to work reasons.

It wasn't two options

A. Sit in the stands and the tax payer pays for security
Or

B. Accept a gift of hospitality.

There are two more

C. Pay for your own hospitality

Or

D. Don't go

I dislike him more after watching that

I can’t even bear to listen to him and the weaselly excuses he’s coming out with. He really does take us all for idiots.

@MrsRobinsonsHandprints agreed. If he hadn’t run on a platform of being so holier than bloody thou it might be slightly less infuriating. But he did and every time he opens his mouth, he makes it worse.
How can the concept of “I pay for what I want” not have occurred to him??? It’s baffling……..

It’s the complete tone deafness for me, and sense of entitlement, that grates. And the doubling down. I now see that more within the party are openly criticising him for that. Harriet Harman being the latest. This looks to me a lot like his Gordon Brown moment

I’d have a degree of sympathy on the security front, if only Prince William and George hadn’t just been in an area of the stands (albeit a dedicated area) not a private box for the FA cup final. It’s only a game of football - watch it on the television or in the pub, like the majority of fans have to.

He doesn’t have a nice manner about him, unlike Rishi, whom I quite liked but inherited a toxic legacy and seemed bereft of real ideas.

I thought that maybe his dour demeanour meant that, as he claimed, he would be a serious technocratic leader, something the U.K badly needs.

But, so far, so bad. He has neither said or done anything meaningful. He just comes to the house in his flashy eyewear to berate everyone about how things will get worse before they get better. Well, clearly not for him and his cabal of chosen mates!

I know, in the scheme of things, £100k is small beer and he hasn’t (yet) been enmeshed in any serious scandal. And, just like tax avoidance, what he has done is legal. But, it is a seriously bad look given the way he lectures others.

(And he gave train drivers an average of £73k per annum, more than the vast majority of teachers up to quite high in SLT, for pulling and pushing a lever. So, weak as well as grasping).

Yep. In my last school, I had to sign a policy that I wouldn't accept any gifts over £50 or any social invitations from parents. I was very happy to do so. Ironically people are giving gifts to nurses and school staff to show gratitude and appreciation not because they want something in return.

Looking at the papers today, it seems that Free Gear Keir is not
the only fool (although he is the biggest). Seven cabinet ministers given money and stuff and holidays by this random man who bought his way into Number 10. What did they think was happening here? They are all complete fools and they are in charge of the country.

And while it would be excruciatingly embarrassing for the average person to have the world know that another man buys his wife's clothes and his flashy glasses, Free Gear doesn't seem to be remotely fussed. He is indeed the biggest tool that his father made.

So since election Starmer has

Flown around the world shaking hands
Sorted out his and Lady S wardrobe
Seen a lot of free entertainment
Given large pay rises to some ( half agree with this)
Shafted OAPs
Acquired a new cat and upset Larry.

How it that nurses, teachers, civil servants, folks in the private sector of all jobs and roles have to follow the law, but politicians are exempt?

www.ashurst.com/en/insights/quickguide-bribery-and-corruption-uk-guide/

What is a bribe?
The Act refers to "a financial or other advantage". This is deliberately broad and goes beyond the payment of money and the handing over of "brown envelopes". It may cover a wide range of things, including:

• gifts and corporate hospitality;
• promotional expenses, travel expenses and accommodation costs;
• employing public officials or their relatives;
• vouchers or other cash equivalent;
• provision of services such as use of a car or provision of a decorator;
• awarding a contract to a company connected to a public official;
• awarding a contract to a particular company; or
• making political or charitable donations.

Free gear, no idea, Keir! 😂

I am not a labour supporter but feel it is important to say that this is not some random man... it is somebody who is a labour peer and has been a party member for many years. I don't understand the massive outrage other than it's an obscene amount to spend on clothing. It should have been declared by Keir and others but the donation itself shouldn't be an issue as it doesn't appear from illegitimate means. I know some people do similar with charities to allow them to operate as 100% donation policy entities yet certain people will make donations to cover costs that we wouldn't deem essential I.e specific people will donate to cover salaries, others make donations for printing etc etc.

Haha... in schools, generally showing appreciation, but some are currying favour for their child. Hence the rule.

I'm not sure donations for printing is this issue here. Have a look at the papers today, see what cabinet members and Keir have been receiving, and then think back to what Keir said when Boris had received personal donations.

I don't think you can really argue much of the fun stuff they have received is legitimate, particularly if you have a look at the current rules that apply to a lot of businesses these days (such as in finance) regarding bribery. Declared or otherwise (and I bet a lot more will come to light now journalists are onto it) it's a really stupid thing to do for someone who holds themselves out as having the highest integrity. Receiving expensive gifts from someone like Lord Alli means you have done something in return or are obligated to do something down the line. Nothing in life is for free and if Labour thought that they are bigger twits than we realised. Or hugely naive. Neither of which is great for us as they are in charge.