Sir Keir Starmer declares gifts and freebies totalling more than £100,000 - the highest of any MP

[TealTraybake]

Perhaps the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire needs his freebies because MPs aren’t paid enough. Or perhaps he’s just the knight commander of the most astonishing hypocrisy.

By that reasoning, the only pensioners not eligible for the WFA are millionaires?

There is something more distasteful about a supposed representative of the working class being greedy, than when an obvious capitalist helps themselves.

I didn't vote Labour but like many I hoped they would be different or at least implement some useful changes.

I suspected they would be terrible but I really feel for those who voted for them in good faith after the awful run the country had with the Tories.
Sadly Starmer, Rayner et al are just as greedy and corrupt as the rest of them and they'll happily squeeze every penny out of the poor and vulnerable.

No better than those they replaced.

It seems very odd to
me that MPs are not subject to legal restrictions or a code of practice regulating the personal receipt of benefits from third parties along the lines applicable to, for example, civil servants and company directors.

Am I ill- informed; is there something? Other than the duty to declare I mean?

Most well run companies, even large private ones that aren’t listed on the stock exchange, have detailed internal rules and regulations that specify what kinds of ‘gifts’ and hospitality are acceptable for directors to accept, include a cash limit etc and an approval process. In fact, why are MPs who run U.K. limited (!) not subject to the same kind of statutory duties as company directors. It’s a real head scratcher. 🙄

@EasternStandard yeah he got new glasses, he had his rose tinted ones on for the election but the new ones appear to have a deep blue filter!

You think Labour are any different to the Tories?

One might think only the Tories would accept a 4 million pound donation from a Cayman Island registered hedge fund, the timing of the donation was perfect if avoiding scrutiny was desirable.

So maybe, dresses and specs are not such a big deal after all.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/labour-given-4m-from-tax-haven-based-hedge-fund-with-shares-in-oil-and-arms/

No, I didn’t.
He didn’t check with his officials.
His officials went to him first to tell him he should declare gifts and benefits to his wife (by this time other designers were approaching his wife to offer clothes) it was only then that they declared the clothes and services previously given to his wife by Alli, despite the rules being clear about third parties.
Bit different. Subtle, sure, but still different.

Utterly disgusting and reprehensible.

Whether it's the Tories or Labour, it's just not right.
When the government are telling us that we're in a hole financially and need to make difficult decisions, surely there's an adult in the room advising them that free football tickets, free Taylor Swift tickets and free clothes are not a good look!
I'm in the CS and we can't accept any free gifts as we need to be seen as impartial. Why is it different for the Government?

Wut? You think that the threshold for no longer receiving WFA has been set at £1,000,000.00? Are you quite alright?

The Tories were awful so it doesn't matter if Labour are no better?

If only they hadn't said they were the party of change.

I think they should have to pay tax on these ‘benefits’!
if a company gives an employee private health care, company car or other perks, these are all taxable benefits.

Gaslighting? Tosh. Whether it's Johnson getting 50K or Starmer getting 10K. It's just not right no matter how much!!!

Says it all.

I’d not noticed

Can’t wait for them to put everyone’s uni fees up. Sooner they stop the student loan con, the better.

@DogInATent
It’s ok, I understand that you just don’t get it. Happens to us all. I will spell it out for you.

A prime minister who campaigned to clean up politics must be whiter than white.

And that, he most definitely is not.

It was a refurb and the wallpaper was left behind when Boris left, so hardly the same as Keir Starmer's personal gifts.

Yep at least it wasn't garb and glasses, for the wife included

It's eye watering how expensive it is to watch Arsenal men. He should go watch Arsenal women instead if he wants to watch football.

All the gear Keir. Loves his free shit.

Or just pay his own way, like everyone else.

Exactly. They’re all at it.

Plus redecorating their little pad, not paying maintenance, lying 🤷🏼‍♀️😜

What does a Personal Shopper shop for? Cheese? Sock? Frocks? Greetings cards?

Very few famous people pay their own way. You think Beckham paid for his tickets to watch Birmingham FC?