During Thursday night’s BBC Question Time, presenter Fiona Bruce confronted Conservative MP Andrew Bowie over the ongoing controversy surrounding political donations, highlighting former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own history with accepting gifts.
The current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has come under scrutiny for receiving over £107,000 in gifts and hospitality from party donors since 2019, including tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. On Wednesday, Starmer repaid more than £6,000 of these gifts, stating it was “right” to do so as new guidelines for accepting donations are drawn up. However, critics have accused him of being transparent only when “his back’s against the wall.”
During the Question Time discussion, Bowie, a shadow minister, took aim at Starmer, claiming he had accepted a “staggering amount” of donations, more than double that of the next closest MP. According to a Sky News investigation, Labour MP Lucy Powell is next on the list, having declared £40,289 in gifts since 2019.
Fiona Bruce’s Intervention
While Bowie criticised Starmer, Bruce interrupted, pointing out that Boris Johnson had accepted even more during his time as an MP. “Not as much as Boris Johnson,” Bruce said, reminding the audience of the former prime minister’s own donation controversies.
Bowie tried to brush off the comment, stating, “Well no, Boris Johnson is no longer an MP,” to which Bruce quickly responded, “No, but he was leader of your party, and he accepted an awful lot of money, some of it to pay for his own wedding.”
Johnson made headlines in January 2023 for receiving the largest single donation ever given to an MP, a £1 million gift, which far exceeded previous records. Additionally, Johnson received a £23,853 donation from JCB boss Anthony Bamford and his wife Carole to pay for his wedding marquee, further adding to the list of freebies he accepted during his time in office.
The Freebies Debate
Back on Question Time, Bowie redirected the conversation, claiming Starmer’s acceptance of over £107,000 in gifts is still a pressing issue. He mentioned that Labour donor Lord Alli had been given a Downing Street pass following the election and criticised the government’s decision to limit winter fuel payments to those on pension credit amid the controversy.
Bowie also noted that many members of the public find it “abhorrent” that someone as well-paid as Starmer would accept such gifts.
In response, Bruce fired back: “Presumably your strength of feeling about why someone who is well paid needs someone to buy clothes for them extends to why [former] PM Boris Johnson needed someone to buy him wallpaper?”
Bruce was referring to the infamous “wallpapergate” scandal, where Johnson accepted donations worth an estimated £52,000 to refurbish his Downing Street flat. Johnson later claimed he had repaid all the money.
Bowie responded: “I did feel quite strongly about that, and you would have to ask Boris Johnson that question.”
You can watch it below:
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