We won't take any more clothes as free gifts - PM

Labour's first party conference as a new government risked being overshadowed by the donations row as Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner caved in to pressure to stop accepting clothes as free gifts.

-  Pippa Crerar Rowena Mason

The decision, announced yesterday, came after days of criticism over the Labour peer Waheed Alli funding Starmer's work wardrobe, as well as clothes for his wife, Victoria, that were not initially declared. The Guardian revealed yesterday that Reeves and Rayner had also received donations for work outfits.

Lord Alli, who is Labour's main fundraiser and a businessman, had given Starmer glasses worth £2,435 and work clothing worth £16,200, as well as a stay in a £18m penthouse luxury apartment. Starmer may have broken parliamentary rules in failing to declare clothes bought for his wife by Alli within 28 days of receipt.

Rayner, the deputy prime minister, was also given a donation for work clothing from Alli in June. This was declared as a donation in kind from the peer worth £3,550, without explaining it was for outfits.

The deputy prime minister is understood to have contacted the registrar of interests to give a fuller description of the donation.

Reeves accepted a donation of £7,500 from a donor, Juliet Rosenfeld, from the beginning of last year, which was used to pay for clothing.

Reeves declared it as a cash donation rather than as a gift and has been assured this was within the rules.

The prime minister, Rayner and Reeves are all understood to have decided they will not take donations to pay for clothes in future.

The row over donations has dogged Starmer, who had pledged to run a government of high standards. And while he has insisted he has broken no rules, the saga has been threatening to derail the start of the conference in Liverpool tomorrow.