Cabinet ministers do not need to follow the Prime Minister’s example and repay the cost of post-election freebies, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Sir Keir insisted it was a “personal decision” to repay some £6,000 worth of gifts he had received since coming to power in July.
A row over donations has engulfed the PM’s top team of MPs in recent weeks after it was revealed they had accepted a raft of donations, including designer clothing and free tickets to football matches and concerts.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir have all vowed not to take donations of clothing in future.
The Prime Minister announced this week that he would repay the costs of some gifts he received, including nearly £2,000 of hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse, six Taylor Swift tickets and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured for his wife Lady Victoria Starmer.
Asked if there was a need for him to look at how politics is funded, the PM told reporters: “In relation to donations, I’m not sure there’s anything I can add to the very many answers I’ve given in the last week or two.”
Labour’s political opponents have criticised these actions in the light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
Asked if Cabinet ministers should follow his lead during a visit to a Cheshire glass-making factory, Sir Keir said: “No. I mean look, we are going to draw up some principles so that everyone can see the basis on which donations etcetera are being accepted.
“We are working on that. Until they are 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 is my personal decision, I am not saying others should do the same.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had earlier suggested Labour should not offer businesses meetings with ministers in return for cash donations.
It came after reports a Labour Party commercial team had offered company chiefs a chance to “gain insight” with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in exchange for £30,000.
Mr Reynolds was unaware of the meeting – which was first reported by The Sun newspaper – had not agreed to it, nor will he be attending it.
Political parties often organise events alongside business leaders, including the Conservatives, who held a business day at their party conference this week.
But the Labour meeting comes amid the backdrop of the row over donations.
When asked what his message to Labour officials was following the incident, Mr Miliband said: “Don’t do it again is my message.”
