Starmer returns more than 7,000 euros to stop gift scam involving clothes and tickets international

Keir Starmer has finally understood that not everything that is legal is presentable. The Prime Minister has begun to try to leave behind the scandal that has followed him since his term began: more than 120,000 euros in clothes, designer glasses, soccer passes and concert tickets. All free. Gifts from Labor Party donors such as businessman Waheed Ali.

The Prime Minister’s team has announced that Starmer will return more than 7,100 euros of those gifts to the people and companies who donated them. These are the gifts whose legality is being questioned the most. Four tickets to see singer Taylor Swift, worth 3,334 euros, courtesy of Universal Music Group. Two more concerts cost 712 euros for the same concert given by the Football Association. Four passes to Doncaster horse racing, worth 2,300 euros. And, finally, about a thousand euros to rent Adeline Lee brand clothes for his wife Victoria Starmer.

The Prime Minister has also committed to tightening the current code of conduct which sets out the ethical standards that members of the government must follow.

The Labor government made it clear early last week that none of its ministers would accept gifts or use donor money for personal expenses. Not only Starmer, but the Economy Minister, Rachel Reeves, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, also benefited from Asian-born businessman Waheed Alli, who was giving hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Labor Party. Year.

Most of these donations were recorded in the House of Commons register of interests. However, some were not fully detailed, in order to hide that they were clothing or other items for personal use. They appeared listed as “aids for the performance of professional functions”.

But its legality could not quell the irritation of many party members and voters, who heard the news at the same time as the government warned them about drastic social cuts such as ending support to pensioners on gas and electricity bills.

The scandal cast a shadow over the Labor Congress held in Liverpool last week. The meeting, which was an occasion to celebrate the July 4 election victory, was largely devoted, at least in the corridors, to discussing the first entanglements of the Starmer team.

the merchant investigated

Starmer’s decision to return the money for part of the gifts coincides with the announcement of the launch of an investigation into businessman Alli, who belongs to the House of Lords since former Prime Minister Tony Blair gave him this privilege.

The House Ethical Standards Commission is investigating alleged irregularities by the billionaire in registry declarations of interests, although parliamentary sources indicate these will be issues related to the offices of his companies. Nothing to do with all the gifts Alli gave to her friends in Downing Street.