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.

Why is it so difficult for you to comprehend that he could just pay for his own hospitality ticket? I’m going to see Arsenal in a few weeks. In hospitality. Which I have paid for myself. Please explain to me why Starmer shouldn’t pay for his own ticket. With a declared income (discounting all the bloody freebies of course) of more than £400k I’m quite sure his shoulders are “broad enough” to fork out for his own ticket. You know, like I have to? And no, I didn’t vote Tory!
And before you say “well, he’s the PM and it’s not his fault he needs security etc. I quite agree. But as the PM he also gets his housing and utilities paid. As well as apparently his clothes, those of his wife, his spectacles and separate dwellings to go to. It’s not too much to expect him to pay to attend a bloody football match.
The budget is going to be godawful and he is going to look like a MASSIVELY hypocritical ass when delivering it. It’s very disappointing.

Do you hold the same views on the freebies Boris and his pals took?

The budget is going to be difficult - 14 years of mismanagement can’t be corrected quickly.

Selling in ‘difficult’ will only last for so long. If their policies don’t work as they expect it’ll be a short shelf life on that line

For the majority anyway

Tory policies didn’t work but unfortunately the majority were naive, accepted the lies and kept voting them in.

They have promised growth and if they fail on that they’ll struggle. Both with unions and doing things such as lift defence spending

Most people have had it with the Tories, they know they had 14 years, messed everything up and whatever the fall out with Labour might be now, people will turn to other parties if Labour fail, which some on here actually want!!

Even Jeremy Hunt accepts this is the challenge for the Tories.

He already pays for his season ticket, it’s been upgraded. Reeves is delivering the budget, not Starmer.

@Parker231 yes. I think the Tory’s were totally shit to accept all the freebies. Hence (along with many other reasons) I didn’t vote for them. But as for your comment that “the majority were naive and accepted the lies” well yes. But unfortunately that also seems to be true of Labour. I doubt ANY labour voter expected this utterly avoidable shit show so early in their term. Starmer ran on a platform of getting rid of sleeze and moral superiority. He has sunk himself and is apparently unable to acknowledge it. It’s a terrible start for the Labour Party. Dim at best, hypocritical and grabby at worst. Either way, nothing that gives any confidence that he’s fit to run the country, any more than the Tory’s were. And worst of all? If Labour fuck this up we might end up with Farage 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Do stop splitting hairs. He’s the PM, it’s his budget and he could and should have paid for his upgrade.
If he wants to trap on about the “broadest shoulders” he needs to realise that he HAS those and pay for his own stuff.

Oh please.

The stands were safe enough for William, George and Rishi.

But suddenly not good enough for Starmer?

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/boris-johnson-spent-more-on-renovating-his-flat-than-starmer-has-received-in-gifts-since-2019-383088/

How did he get his tickets for the Tottenham away match then if his season ticket has just been “upgraded”?!

Just because those other children did it, doesn't make it right. Can Labour have better morals than the Conservatives? What you seem to be saying from your repeated referrals to Boris etc is that no they cant and also that all politicians are the same.

I think everyone already came to that point of view at the start of this thread.

Rosie Duffield's letter summed up the problem with the hospitality freebies perfectly. I can't see anyone successfully arguing against her sentiments and continuing to call themselves a proper socialist.

So facts are “splitting hairs” now. OK.

We all know how Labour fans would react if the boot was on the other foot. The various ways they're trying to twist this as just fine are hilarious!

Tom Baldwin's biography strongly implied that Starmer cheated on one of his long term girlfriends - which is why they split up.

Oh please.

That's what Tom Baldwin strongly implied in his book - Starmer was dallying with a female barrister which caused the split with his then long-term girlfriend.

The article in your link forgets to mention that Johnson refunded the donors for the flat renovation after the furore;

The PM eventually settled all the costs himself including those paid for by the 57-year-old peer.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/08/leaked-200000-list-reveals-2250-gold-wallpaper-in-boris-refurb-plans-16966070/

Didn’t Boris have his wedding and holidays paid for by a supporter?

Angela Rayner complained to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards about Johnson's free holidays in Mustique and Marbella.

Yeah apart from she has also accepted freebies too.

Hilarious is Jenrik telling us all UK SF are murdering people to stop them being arrested and then being allowed to stay here..

On top of another Tory hopeful telling the UK that maternity pay is too high, Jenrik seeks to "Trump" her

I think Tories on here need to sort their own shit out first.

Hilarious is Jenrik telling us all UK SF are murdering people to stop them being arrested and then being allowed to stay here..

Once again in English please, as I've no clue what you're on about.

She [Duffield] only appears to have registered one item under Gifts, benefits and hospitality since 2019 - worth £350 in 2021.

I don’t support Boris and freebies either! Or any of them. I’d rather they were paid a high salary and paid their way. All of them, All parties. Staff agreed and paid for by the state. Political advisers paid by the parties. Gifts limited to say £100. So for mere mortals, a pair of shoes.