Sir Keir Starmer has paid back £6,000 in gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10 amid a row over donations.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister is covering 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.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has commissioned a new set of principles on gifts and hospitality to be published as part of the updated ministerial code.
“Ahead of the publication of the new code, the Prime Minister has paid for several entries on his own register.
“This will appear in the next register of members’ interests.”
Gifts paid for by Starmer include four Taylor Swift tickets from Universal Music Group totalling £2,800, two from the Football Association at a cost of £598, and four to Doncaster Races from Arena Racing Corporation at £1,939.
The Prime Minister has also covered an £839 clothing rental agreement with Edeline Lee, the designer recently worn by his wife to London Fashion Week, along with one hour of hair and makeup.
It comes after the Labour leader and other Cabinet members faced weeks of criticism for accepting tens of thousands of pounds worth of freebies from donors.
The Prime Minister – who has promised to “clean up” British politics – has committed to overhauling hospitality rules for ministers to ensure better transparency about what is provided following the outcry.
Starmer also accepted £6,134 in “clothing and personal support” for Lady Starmer in June from Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli, according to the latest register of interests – but this will not be paid back.
With that in mind, do you think that Keir Starmer is right to pay back £6,000 worth of gifts? Have your say by voting in the poll above.
