I am a Labour voter, a Labour supporter and I do not regret my vote.

[CurlewKate]

However, I think that Starmer has been incredibly stupid and/or very badly advised over this expenses issue. He has done nothing wrong, but his behaviour is not what he led us to believe he would do, and I am incredibly exasperated and disappointed.

In my opinion, he should admit that he made a massive misjudgement, and agree to take no more freebies from now on.

Apart from anything else anything which allows people to say "They are all as bad as each other" (they aren't) is a distraction from the real issues the country faces. He should be laser focussed on repairing the damage caused by 14 years of Tory misrule. Not scrambling around dealing with peripheral stuff.
Starmer-say sorry. Don't do it again. And get back to work.

You've already been told the contracts weren't illegal so I'll leave that point.

I was a carer myself during the pandemic - it's awful that your daughter was put at risk. Did you want a the stops pulled out for her to get some or not? I think the Tories are useless but I don't necessarily think they were intentionally malicious.

I definitely agree with your last comment. I hate the way journos sit on stories whichever side of the political spectrum they are on. I don't agree that Starmer declared his clothes because they're not office supplies but it should have been reported straight away. It was the same with Johnson sitting outside with wine and the No 10 parties. It seems to be more important to get a massive scoop that sells all the Sunday tabloids than report news with integrity.

Well...try and explain what the "argument" is about as far as you know? I can't really tell as it seems one of those ones where the poster picks up on some innocuous phrase and tries to imply that there's some implication in the phrase (unknown to the writer) and then extrapolates some silly argument.

As far as I can see from the OP she took exception to me using the words "clothes from other men" or something. It's a long time since I posted it.

I did not mean to imply anything. So a reasonable person would then stop trying to manufacture a spurious argument made in their own heads.

I'm also really interested to know why you and the OP are really trying to draw attention to it unnecessarily. You both seem to be suggesting that something untoward about the clothes being bought by Lord Alli, bearing in mind the current climate. What do you know that we all don't???

So is the consensus that the Conservatives properly declared all the gifts,donations and loans they received? That there were no improperly awarded contracts? That all their dealings were completely above board.

I am equally as critical of anyone Tory as much as anyone Labour who both breaks the rules/law and also who does something like accepting free clothes even if lawful - as it gives a perception they might favour the donor. I was about to cite the Cash for Honours investigation in about 2006 to support my objectivity point but see if was done under Blair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash-for-Honours_scandal However despite that, I would be just as much against any examples of the Tory side too.

I very much doubt it.

But I do think there’d be a consensus that Labour campaigned very hard on Tory sleaze, and its own high standards, and is showing itself to be gobsmackingly hypocritical.

Well thats not what the court found, even if some want to make it a technicality, Transparency International also say contracts were corrupt and favoured companies linked to the Tories eg M.Mone.

The report details how critical safeguards designed to prevent corruption were suspended without adequate justification. Transparency International UK identify 73 contracts worth more than £3.7 billion, equivalent to 20 percent of COVID-19 contracts between February and November 2020, that raise one or more red flags for possible corruption
Of particular concern is the ‘VIP’ or ‘high priority' lane used to fast track offers of PPE from companies referred by MPs, peers and senior officials Our analysis of the available evidence is consistent with there being systemic bias towards those with connections to the party of government in Westminster, despite continued claims by the Government to the contrary

Thousands of carers still not got covid bonus - Not Malicious? i cannot say but they definitely couldn't care less about healthcare staff.

The reports of parties was reported at the time they occurred but the media didn't run with them.

@Rummly But I do think there’d be a consensus that Labour campaigned very hard on Tory sleaze, and its own high standards, and is showing itself to be gobsmackingly hypocritical."

I agree that the optics are bad and Labour have played this very badly. But fully and properly declared donations are not "sleaze" Foolish and ill considered yes. But not sleaze.

But the Labour donations weren't "fully and properly declared".

They were.

Not according to the Telegraph. Keir did say "the rules were very clear".

Anyway I think that ship has sailed.

@Nordione1 "But the Labour donations weren't "fully and properly declared".

I think they were- apart from one that was late? Happy (well, not happy but prepared!) to be told otherwise. Obviously with evidence.....

The Telegraph? That bastion of unbiased reporting that isn’t even a little bit right leaning? Perlease.

No chance that the Tories were above board - Boris’s wedding, holidays and decorator?

I'm happy with it's reporting. The journalists aren't binkered fantatics so while it is obviously centre right it's pretty factual.

The Telegraph? That bastion of unbiased reporting that isn’t even a little bit right leaning? Perlease.

It’s a comic. It’s got far worse than it ever used to be over the last six months or so, even the lifelong Tory voter I’m married to is laughing at it now.

No it's pretty good. But most newspapers are saying similar things anyway. No one is trying to excuse Labour's actions. Keir will be gone soon.

In your dreams.

Why do you think that the reporting is good- measured, accurate and responsible??? Fails all those tests

Show me a British newspaper which doesn't!

Why would Kier go - he’s not a Liz Truss

Keir.

@Nordione1 what donations to Labour were not fully and properly declared? I can't read the Telegraph because it's behind a pay wall.

even the lifelong Tory voter I’m married

I have to say, Blossomtoes, that surprises me. Do you get as cross with him as you do with Tories or anyone who doesn’t vote Labour on here?

I don’t get cross with anyone.