Official announcement from the UK government or Labour Party

UK PM Keir Starmer Investigated for £76,000 Undeclared Clothing Donations from Lord Alli

Sep 15, 2024, 08:50 AM

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under investigation for allegedly breaching parliamentary rules by accepting clothing donations for his wife from Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli. The Sunday Times reported that Starmer failed to declare these donations, which include £76,000 worth of clothes and entertainment, and £18,685 specifically for work clothes and glasses. Additionally, his wife had a personal shopper. Foreign Secretary David Lammy defended Starmer, stating that there is no transparency issue and that successive prime ministers have relied on donations to look their best. Critics argue that Starmer's actions are hypocritical, given his previous criticisms of other politicians for similar rule-breaking. The investigation has sparked a debate about the ethics of accepting such donations and the lack of a budget for the Prime Minister's clothing in the UK. It was also noted that donor Lord Alli received a security pass to Downing Street.