'It smells awful': Starmer faces criticism for clothing donation to wife
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10 Downing Street has said there will be no investigation by the Parliamentary watchdog into donations given to Keir Starmer’s wife Victoria after the PM was late registering the gift.
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In brief…
Read time: 4 mins
- Keir Starmer has been criticised for a late declaration that a Labour donor had bought clothes for his wife Victoria.
- He will not face an investigation into the situation, but some Tory MPs have called the situation a “scandal”.
- The News Agents say there should be more understanding of the role of a Prime Minister’s wife, but admit it “smells awful” for the Prime Minister.
What's the story?
Despite feverish discussion on social media and TV talk shows, there will be no investigation into whether Keir Starmer broke rules for a late declaration of clothes given to his wife by a Labour donor.
Donations from Lord Waheed Alli reportedly covered costs of clothes, a personal shopper and alterations for Victoria Starmer.
The Prime Minister made the late declaration after being given advice on what needed to be declared, The Sunday Times reported.
His actions have been criticised by the right wing press and Conservative politicians.
Tory MP Andrew Griffith has called for a "full investigation" into what he refers to as a "scandal".
The Conservatives faced their own fair share of donation scandals during their time in power, such as Boris Johnson accepting a donation of more than £52,000 to renovate his home in 11 Downing Street, when he was in power, or when Frank Hester – the biggest Tory donor – was found to have made racist and offensive comments about Labour MP Diane Abbott.
Starmer was referred to the parliamentary standards commissioners in 2022 when he was similarly late in registering football tickets, among other interests.
In August 2024 it was reported in The Times that Lord Alli had been given a temporary pass to 10 Downing Street, along with allegations he had held a reception for Labour donors in the garden of the property.
Can the Prime Minister's wife wear the same clothes 'day in, day out'?
What has Keir Starmer said?
Following criticism of the donation from Lord Alli (former chairman of ASOS), Keir Starmer told journalists "wherever there are gifts from anyone, I'm going to comply with the rules".
He has personally received close to £19,000 worth of clothes from Lord Alli, all of which have been properly formally disclosed within parliamentary guidelines.
In early 2024, before becoming Prime Minister, it was revealed Keir Starmer had paid £99,400 tax on earnings of £404,000 in 2022-23.
Victoria Starmer works as an occupational health worker in the NHS, following a career as a solicitor.
What are the rules around the Prime Minister and valuable gifts?
The Prime Minister, and all MPs, are entitled to accept gifts and donations, but they must be registered within 28 days.
Gifts must be registered if it is worth more than £300, or if several from the same person total £300 or more.
MPs in the UK are permitted to accept unlimited donations, on the condition the source is an "authorised" donor – meaning someone registered in the country.
What’s The News Agents’ take?
The News Agents say this situation “smells awful” for Keir Starmer.
Natasha Clark, political editor of LBC, tells The News Agents the backlash to the situation has been made worse because of some of Labour’s actions since coming to power.
“There are reports of thousands of pounds being spent on dresses for her,” Clark tells Jon Sopel.
“For many people, it’s the juxtaposition of that with the cutting of winter fuel payments – apparently, there’s not enough money and Labour needs to fund this 22 billion pound black hole.”
She adds the situation could become a “dark cloud” for the government as it’s annual conference approaches, that it doesn’t quite “smell right” and doesn’t wash with the “squeaky clean” image of Keir Starmer the UK public was presented with during the 2024 election.
But Jon Sopel says there should be some understanding for how being a Prime Minister’s wife works in the UK – or more specifically, how it doesn’t work.
“In the British system – unlike being the first lady in America – there is no support, there is no office, there is no constitutional recognition or understanding of your role,” he says.
“So if you turn up wearing the same clothes, day in day out, and you're meant to be going to state banquets, and you're meant to be at London Fashion Week, and you are on parade in a way that you're not when you're a private citizen, then you think, 'well, who should foot the bill for this?'
But despite this, Jon says he agrees it’s left a whiff in the air.
“I think it smells awful,” he adds.
Listen in full on The News Agents.
