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.

@Birdscratch no need for that, you are just being needlessly rude. Wearing what you can afford, without accepting strings attached freebies surely is a sign of integrity? I couldn’t tell you what either of them have worn, ever, because I honestly don’t care. I do care about integrity, honesty and self awareness though. Sadly lacking in ALL our political parties.

More than £20,000 is quite a lot for some clothes and glasses…

In fairness to that lovable old twit Michael Foot, it wasn’t a donkey jacket. It was a Loden coat. Prince Philip was impressed by it, apparently.

Yes.

I can’t begin to imagine what on earth they were thinking.

I have no problem with her being entitled to expenses to buy stuff as PM’s wife that she wouldn’t normally buy. However, she seems to want all the frills but to keep a low profile.

Taking all this free stuff from a donor makes them look greedy and gullible, especially with the free pass thing and the private party at No 10.

Sleazy AF

@Rummly

Michael Foot was never going to be able to pull off even the most expensive of clothes

What is this donor getting out of Labour? He seems to feature prominently in each scenario of sleaze.

I was aide to a politician.
She was unmarried.
She lived in the same home she always did.
She drove the same car.
Wore the same clothes.
Our office furniture was embarrassingly old.
We didn’t didn’t even use postage stamps for anything except business.
She made history for her groundbreaking legislation and representing women.

So no - all politicians are NOT the same.

I hate generalisations like this.

Me&Em make very acceptable dresses at a mid market price point. If I were Victoria Starmer's stylist, it would be one of the first places I would take her.

Is it? I have a complex prescription and recently spent £1200 on varifocals, specs and a pair of sunglasses. DH has spent £3k on a suit before now. I can see how it adds up.

Angela Raymer has been dressing nicely lately. Does she also get gifts?

She’s had £21k from the same Labour donor, so I think it’s fair to assume yes!

@RosesAndHellebores yes it absolutely does add up. Difference being I assume you or your dh were paying for the stuff you bought? With money you had earned and paid tax on? No wealthy benefactor in the background whilst you were making enormous financial decisions for “ working people”?

@Tryingtokeepgoing has she? Why am I NOT surprised? WHEN are we ever going to get anyone in leadership with an ounce of integrity?

Is there any evidence of this? Like a link perhaps?

Which is, of course, why I said ‘quite a lot’. Yes, once can spend more, but equally one can spend less. And if one’s spending one’s own money that’s absolutely fine. Though of course spending other people’s money is easier 😂

And it has to be said that there is a tendency for the left to be quite good at spending other people’s money ;)

Also I don’t get why she calls herself ‘Lady’ Vic. She is a solicitor turned NHS worker. Which is obviously a really good career but she doesn’t have her own title. If your partner gets a title on merit surely you don’t share it too? Or am I mistaken?

It’s all in the register of members interests

https://members.parliament.uk/member/4356/registeredinterests

To be fair she is doing nothing that every MP does. For example Jenrick received £35k from a single donor in April.

https://members.parliament.uk/member/4320/registeredinterests

That doesn't mean I agree with MPs being paid wads of cash or freebies. It should stop for them all.

He was knighted, as Director of Public Prosecutions, so she is Lady Starmer. She doesn't have to use the title privately, but it will be used at formal functions.

Even Carrie Johnson, despite having dodgy taste in wallpaper wore a lot of hired dresses.

That’s a pretty feeble bit of defence of Starmer‘s supermarket sweep-style trolly dash in the opticians and the gents outfitters.

Oh yes I agree, except that they did say they’d be different….

If you are going to take the moral high ground, it’s best to be whiter than white yourself in your conduct. And to give Angela her credit, she did at least declare everything in the appropriate timeframe, which Starmer failed to do

Well no, but 35/40 years ago DH had political ambition. By the time he was ready to apply for a safe seat, his earnings had escalated and he wasn't so power hungry that he was prepared to compromise his earnings to become an MP - even if he had made Minister.

At least Rishi never needed the money!

The slightly comical aspect is that Keir probably needs all the help he can get to suave up (although I wouldn't kick him out of bed for his looks - the voice on the other hand - nails on a blackboard are marginally sexier) whereas Victoria would look good in a belted bin liner!

How does this come about? What is the conversation behind buying someone £20k of clothes??

Donor: You ok? You’re looking a bit down…
Mrs S: <sigh> It’s just this dress is a bit old and I’ve worn it before. It’s so difficult to dress properly what with being the Prime Minister’s wife and all…
Donor: Oh that’s a shame. Why don’t I pay for a personal shopper for you? You can treat yourself to some new clobber?
Mrs S: Oh I couldn’t, could I?
Donor: Of course! My treat!! Can’t imagine there would be any issues…
Mrs S: Oh super! £20k be ok?
Donor: Not a penny over, mind..
Both: <Fits of guffawing>

Sir Keir and Lady Starmer due to his knighthood. She would only be Lady Vic if her father were an Earl and it is exceptionally crass to call herself Lady Vic, if in fact she does.