Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his decision to accept free accommodation from a Labour donor, explaining that it was necessary to help his son focus on his GCSE exams. The accommodation, valued at £20,000, was provided by Labour peer Lord Alli and declared in Starmer’s register of interests.
In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Starmer shared why the accommodation was important. He said their home had become a hotspot for journalists during the general election campaign, making it difficult for his 16-year-old son to study.
“My son was in the middle of his GCSEs,” Starmer said. “I promised him that he would be able to do his exams without being disturbed. We had lots of journalists outside our house. I’m not complaining about that, but for a 16-year-old trying to study, it was hard.”
Starmer explained that Lord Alli offered him a solution. “Someone then offered me accommodation where my son could study in peace. I accepted, and it was the right thing to do,” he added.
This accommodation wasn’t the only gift from Lord Alli. The Labour peer also gave Starmer £20,000 worth of suits and glasses, as well as £5,000 in dresses for Starmer’s wife. All these gifts were properly declared in Starmer’s register of interests, as required by parliamentary rules.
Some critics have raised concerns about the ethics of accepting high-value gifts from donors. However, Starmer insists that he followed all the proper procedures. He says the decision to accept the accommodation was made with his family’s best interests in mind.
The controversy around Starmer’s acceptance of gifts resurfaced recently. Reports claimed he had been offered a seat in the directors’ box at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Starmer addressed this in a separate interview with LBC, denying that he had taken up the offer.
“The club invited me to the directors’ box. People say, ‘Why didn’t you pay for a ticket?’ But you can’t buy a ticket for the directors’ box,” Starmer explained.
The prime minister has faced growing scrutiny over his financial dealings, especially as the general election approaches. Despite this, Starmer maintains that he has been transparent and has fully complied with parliamentary guidelines.
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