PM confirms ministers don’t have to hand back freebies – as Labour MP says Starmer ‘realises he did something wrong’

Politics

Sir Keir Starmer has said senior ministers do not need to hand back freebies and gifts like he has – as Diane Abbott said donors do not donate to politicians “out of altruism”.

After weeks of criticism over Sir Keir and his top team taking freebies since coming into office, on Wednesday the prime minister gave back £6,000 worth of gifts.

Included were the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

But on Friday, he said he does not expect his cabinet ministers to do the same.

“We’re going to draw up some principles so everyone can see the basis on which donations etc can be accepted,” he said.

“Until they’re drawn up I decided to repay so that any future activities of me or anybody else are in accordance with whatever the new principles are.

“That’s my personal decision, I’m not saying others should do the same, but that’s why I did what I did.”

More on Diane Abbott

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Donations not given out of altruism’

Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said Sir Keir’s decision to hand back the money is “an admission he was doing a wrong thing”.

One of the few remaining Jeremy Corbyn loyalists in parliament, Ms Abbott admitted she does not have much of a relationship with Sir Keir.

She accused him of not understanding “how taking freebies looks to ordinary people”.

Read more:
Analysis: Starmer freebies row isn’t about corruption – it’s about class

Angela Rayner’s Ibiza DJ booth rave was £836 freebie

👉 Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Ms Abbott told Sky News: “He just spent weeks and weeks claiming everything was in the rules, now he’s had to give some of it at least back.

“Well, that’s an admission he was doing a wrong thing.”

She said despite previously defending taking freebies, Sir Keir will “see from polling, the public takes a very dim view of this”.

Sir Keir, who was a barrister, is a “very wealthy man”, she said, and although taking the freebies is not “corruption”, she said rich donors do not just give gifts “out of altruism”.

“At some point, they think that politician is going to listen to them,” she said.

Donations are part of politics, Ms Abbott admitted, but not on this scale.

Articles You May Like

Shock poll puts Harris ahead in Iowa as she urges Americans to ‘keep calm-ala’ in SNL appearance
The week in tennis: Zverev wins in Paris, and the ATP Finals spots are locked in
Kemi Badenoch wins race to be next Tory leader
Reynolds to hold talks with bosses amid business budget backlash
America does exit polls differently to the UK – here’s how and why