Starmer may have broken rules on cash for clothing

Sir Keir Starmer is facing an investigation over a potential rules breach after a controversial Labour donor paid for his wife’s clothes.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

The prime minister is reported to have failed to declare donations of clothing for his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, from Waheed Alli, who has given more than £500,000 to Labour over the past 20 years.

The gifts from Lord Alli were not initially declared in the register of MPs’ interests. It was reported that the prime minister approached the parliamentary authorities on Tuesday to make a late declaration after being given updated advice on what needed to be registered.

Labour’s foreign secretary David Lammy said Sir Keir relied on donations because he wanted himself and his wife to “look their best” on behalf of the British public. And he appeared to complain that Britain does not have a similar system to the US, where the president and first lady can use taxpayers’ cash to refresh their wardrobes.