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

[LargeDeviation]

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-faces-investigation-over-possible-breach-of-parliamentary-rules-after-labour-donor-pays-for-wifes-clothes-13215216

And Keir Starmer should have paid himself for his 'several pairs of glasses' and £19K worth of work clothes? On top of that there was £20K for accommodation for Sir Keir and another 'similar sum' on 'private office' costs.

Purely by coincidence, it seems the donor was given a Downing Street security pass allowing easy access to the corridors of power without any role in government.

And yes, Carrie and Boris Johnson should have paid for their wallpaper and hampers too, that is just as sleazy.

Everything isn’t OK. The donations debacle was an unnecessary and avoidable own goal. I personally am furious about it, not least because it’s distracting from all the positive things they’re doing. This hasn’t even hit the news.

https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/news/2024/9/20/centre-for-womens-justice-responds-to-governments-announcement-on-groundbreaking-new-measures-set-to-combat-violence-against-women-and-girls

I agree with you that the goodwill has been blown very early and with your pp that Labour used these tactics against the last gov so they can't complain when it comes back at them.

I think it's more than world conditions that could get them though. They need growth for pretty much every pledge and their polices and tax indications seem mixed. Plus the very early doom and gloom speech. If they can't pull that around they won't need external events

I thought the interview with Education secretary Bridget Phillipson was priceless -

“I was at Wimbledon in my role as Education Secretary”

“What about Taylor Swift?”

Yes, @Rummly , it most definitely it. Documented too, if you could be bothered to check.

Are you talking about PPE contracts?

Where is this documented proof of bribery and personal gain by ministers?

It seems you are correct re Labour stalwarts given Labour have been booed at their own conference

Reeves was heckled by activists and she also received a standing ovation. 🤷‍♀️

I'm disappointed that Labour has fallen into this so soon. I was really hoping things might be different. More fool me.🙁

Ah you are not alone. Polls show a big drop

I do think that they haven't come across well with this. I work in the NHS, in a role that has a fair bit of public health promotion and have to go to events. If someone tied to the NHS tried to donate clothes, apparel and event tickets to the tune of thousands I'd definitely stop to think how it would look and I am pretty certain it would be a no from me.

However, people rarely turn down handouts do they? Not just MP's but your everyday Joe Bloggs too. During covid there were friends who ran small to medium businesses who pretty much took everything they could get from the public purse 'grant' wise to the tune of thousands. One friend ran a cafe and incredulously told me she got a grant for outdoor seating for 20k - she took it and the outdoor furniture she bought was not 20k. My best friend was telling me at the weekend that she was about to get 3k from the 'covid universal credit scheme' - her and her DP put £50 each into a savings account each and the govt have matched it and they now have 3k to match their own 3k input and are off to Japan. My Mum and dad were decrying the fact that their winter fuel payment has been 'snatched' and when I questioned whether they really qualified as 'needing' (they have been on 3 holidays this year) they said it came in handy last year for Christmas presents. They got the UC cost of living payments too because my Dad's pension hadn't quite kicked in and my Mum will only work 2 days a week max. People seem to have a bit of cognitive dissonance when they see a handout - even if deep down they know these handouts come from other people's tax bill. Not excusing MP's, who really should know better because their image really does impact on their job, but there is a mindset at play here too.

But most public sector workers have strict hospitality and 'gift' policies, it's wild that those with actual power don't seem to be held to the same standard when arguably they are most at risk from being seen to be bribed etc. In the NHS as you'll well know you can't accept anything over £25, and even if its under there's a tonne of rules.

Same in the private sector for us. Anti bribery policies were really strict.

I'm not sure examples of people with no morals committing fraud is an overly good way to illustrate anything.

Of course she should, they all should.

Bizarre that anyone could suggest that they were the kind of donations that contribute to a political campaign.

It's already very rich people claiming to be working for average working people opposite to the Tories in England while spending thousands of pounds on outfits and luxury penthouse holidays and glasses, donated by 'friends' of the party.

To be honest I don’t know why anyone cares about the Manhattan flat, it didn’t cost anyone anything and it was declared. It’s a complete non story.

I agree. But it is odd that until July 5th 2024 the right wing press were not overly bothered.

Starmer should change the rules for all MPs.

Of course it costs something.

Service charges, cleaning, maintenance. Tax. Lost income because it could have been rented out over Christmas.

Every single thing costs something, or did you think there is a free lunch out there for everybody?

Are you naïve or are you choosing to see it this way?

Or was it New Year's, not Christmas?

Sorry if I got this wrong.

I agree he should. Not sure if this a serious comment though as the press reported regularly on Boris' wild expenses and it was widely talked about; the hypocrisy of the Tories claiming for x, y and z whilst plunging people in to poverty was often covered too. It's not new, but it's a shame a party who were (rightly) quick to criticise also suck.

New Year.

So are you saying no MP should ever accept free accomodation, even if doing so breaks no rules?

Yes, there were headlines, tbf. I take it back.

Starmer et al have really fucked up. It is infuriating.

Yes, there were headlines, tbf. I take it back.

Starmer et al have really fucked up. It is infuriating.

From family and close friends, yes.

Otherwise no. Nothing ever is free.

You keep saying this, but I have seen very few posters saying all is great.

Many Labour voters on MN have been very critical of what has happened over the past couple of weeks, me included. Blossomtoes too.

The government is not in crisis, though. That is Daily Fail wishful thinking.

And in the interests of balance, lets not forget the sleaze under Blair. Not long after coming into power (seeing a theme?) there was the small matter of the million pounds from Bernie Ecclestone. And the priceless Blair quote - I'm a pretty straight kind of guy".

Then of course there was the loans for peerages scandal - £3.5m from 3 subsequently ennobled 'friends' of labour, and a further £10m that remained mysterious

We could of course then move on to Mandelson and the home loan scandal that forced him to resign twice...albeit and no long term detriment to his ability to milk the UK and EU taxpayer...