Labour freebie scandal is an 'absolute salad of rollocks', says James O'Brien | LBC

James O'Brien questions what exactly he should be angry about regarding the row around Labour's 'freebies', as he maintains 'they've actually done nothing wrong'.
The PM came under fire after accepting work clothing donations worth £16,200, and multiple pairs of glasses, to the value of £2,485 from prominent Labour donor Lord Alli.
It has also emerged that Ms Rayner has accepted clothing donations worth around £2,200 from Lord Alli. Rachel Reeves further admitted that she had accepted money for clothes from donor Juliet Rosenfeld.
It was announced on Friday that Labour's top team will no longer accept donations to pay for clothing.
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#jamesobrien #labour #labourparty #freebies #keirstarmer #angelarayner #rachelreeves #bridgetphillipson #LBC
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[@alex_macieira]

I'm a leftie James. And let me tell you. This is very important. Gifts and donations seek influence.

[@henryburton6529]

So you must be 100x more outraged at Tories and Reform then? I guess this means you will vote Labour for the rest of your life given the alternatives.... Wow, thanks for letting us know

[@patarciepaul]

What if the gift was from a union leader who wanted stronger worker rights in return. Would that not be alright?

[@KeithBattye]

@@henryburton6529 Green/Independent and ethical and transparent. Does that help with the feedback you wanted?

[@Eddie-t83]

The donator is a billionaire Labour peer in the houses of parliament. What more influence could he possibly have?

[@lokensicarius9347]

@@henryburton6529 Whataboutism? really?! "Oh no we can't call out corruption on our team.. look at the other worst people oooo!" Grow up.

[@atlasgabriel5461]

It was wrong when Boris Johnson did it and it’s wrong when Kier Starmer does it. Now you’re falling prey to the “footballification” stuff you’re always slagging others off for.

[@kevinsmarts9953]

Boris did not declare donations, Keir declared them much earlier and more clearer than the rules require. These things are not the same.

[@pipins3616]

@@kevinsmarts9953because he was found out

[@EnquiringMinds-vx8gb]

@@kevinsmarts9953 No Kier is still finding stuff he forgot to declare. Also Racheal Reeves falsely declared clothing and had to apologise.

[@kevinsmarts9953]

@@EnquiringMinds-vx8gb It was a late declaration not failure to declare. That's why its only a minor infraction and not requiring investigation. You don't cover something up by declaring it a bit late. I know the press need to try and find a story but this just looks desperate.

[@paulhillman400]

​@@EnquiringMinds-vx8gbReeves also declared a twenty two billion pound black hole, but now nobody can find it !!!.

[@HL-ui3zq]

Just imagine James’ righteous indignation had it been the Tories 😂

[@simoncox9689]

why would it have been? since the outrage was when torries lied about it all..labour have not nor is anything wrong with this

[@circusscribble]

Or indeed....the left wing side of the labour party. Its almost like he's performing mental gymnastics to defend his unwavering support for the new Labour contrarians. This was happening last week too....is the news so slow that there's nothing else to talk about? Nah.... he's been asked to do this or he's feeling guilty about being conned I'd wager.

[@chad0x]

just imagine, when the tories were taking the exact same freebies, NOTHING said by the right - that's you and people like you. Can you say hypocrite?

[@edeledeledel5490]

Starmer's is chicken feed compared to Tory grift. Boris's £800,000 loan, Jacob Rees-Mogg staunchly supporting Brexit, and making £7 million off it, Michelle Mone and Matt Hancock's sister making millions out of defective PPE for COVID, maintenance costs for listed Tory residences with moats paid as parliamentary expenses... need I go on? The Labour party are amateurs at this sort of thing.

[@Paul-eb4jp]

Totally different, the tories were bought by the rich, Johnson paid for nothing.

[@dominicnanni8825]

He says with a straight face that there is no left/liberal media as he sits there and defends Keir Starmer and Labour without question.

[@trevormannsfield]

Are you honestly calling James O'Brien Left wing? He was more venomous towards Jeremy Corbyn than most of the right wing media

[@hobanagerik]

The Guardian for one. No left media, indeed.

[@DW-indeed]

The "media" in this case being LBC where the preceding show is hosted by the biggest Tory, to pick just one. I'd have a straight face saying the same 🤷‍♂️

[@trevormannsfield]

@@hobanagerik I can open the guardian right now and see multiple articles critical of Labour

[@MattitudePlays]

Labour is not left... Trust me, most of us lefties hate Keir for this too.

[@chriswestwood6490]

Bit disingenuous James. Clearly it's not about what the gift is, so much as the who and why. Very naive of any politician to accept gifts and be then be surprised when it's regarded with suspicion

[@fumbleBumble82]

Yeah if it wasn't to sway their perception, were the companies just giving out free stuff because they enjoy giving out free things to people? Because I'll take some free stuff if the fact politicians were the recepients is irrelevant.

[@MattitudePlays]

I agree. I also want to see Green hold Labour accountable over this very publicly.

[@verystripeyzebra]

Yeah. Imagine if the press had got so animated about it at the time, a year ago. But for some reason they've decided to make this a huge issue now. Trying to muddy the waters between legal gifts and corrupt Tory ppe contracts.

[@King-balloon]

@@verystripeyzebra well he accepted box tickets to arsenal just as they are discussing a football association. We could say that this gift was a small bribe to sway kier into taken on some arsenal staff into the association which would be…corruption

[@verystripeyzebra]

@@King-balloon yes, if all your wild assumptions are true. Your assumptions are doing all the heavy lifting there.

[@casperwallace9685]

Your missing the point. They should not be accepting at all, both parties. The rules need changed. If they can't live on their salaries, then how can they expect someone living else to live on 12k.

[@patarciepaul]

Why not??? A gift is a gift and just as long as nothing is wanted in return such as a government contract then they are totally fine.

[@firebyrd437]

​@@patarciepaulit's corruption

[@patarciepaul]

@@firebyrd437 Nope. Giving someone a present is not corruption just as long as a government contract isn't given in return. Rolls Royce used to give the queen a new car every year absolutely free. Is that corruption???

[@Strawberry_Pez]

@@patarciepaul it can be misconstrued as a bribe, whether it is or isn't. This is why the corporate world has rules about accepting gifts and hospitality, and it largely stopped in the late 90s because of anti-bribery legislation. How this doesn't apply in politics absolutely baffles me.

[@patarciepaul]

@@Strawberry_Pez Starmer has gone to the effort to explain why it wasn't. However, they should be held to the same rules as anyone else. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt as they are a new government and have not had chance to change anything yet.

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

What do these donors want in return? What man allows another to pay for his wife's clothes? How rich is free gear kier? Is he on the poverty line?

[@drummingtildeath]

What if the answer is 'they want people to see the PM wearing their clothes'?

[@fumbleBumble82]

Free Gear Kier Lol

[@fumbleBumble82]

​@@drummingtildeath He's not David Beckham.

[@drummingtildeath]

@fumbleBumble82 responses like that only serve to highlight the fact that you don't want to answer the question

[@verystripeyzebra]

Re the clothes, perhaps what they got in return was having their clothes seen by the rich and powerful.

[@KeithBattye]

I admire people who lead by example - We have to question people that don't.

[@MatthewSmith-j1l]

Boris couldn't get away with being given a slice of birthday cake so I don't see why Kier should get away with anything... especially with Impartial Sue Gray advising him

[@KeithBattye]

@@MatthewSmith-j1l I have a lot of respect for Sue Grey holding Boris to account - one of the few people that did. If it wasn't for people like Sue Grey, our democracy would be heading the same way as the US even faster. I still have grave concerns for it.

[@MatthewSmith-j1l]

@@KeithBattye One of the few people? Impartial Sue Gray was the ringleader of the massive partygate circus which included many in the media and the legal system.

[@julian987r4]

James simply can’t be well. To be this infatuated with Liebour and to not have a balanced view is rather sad to see. He really needs to seek professional help.

[@allowit328]

'As soon as you tell me what I'm supposed to be angry about I'll ask you to compare it to what went before'. If I get angry at a case of modern slavery would James reply with 'Well, it was worse before, so there'?

[@kevinsmarts9953]

If modern slavery was legal in the UK you'd have a point.

[@ronmastrio2798]

@@kevinsmarts9953 It is and the government tacitly supports it by allowing mass immigration.

[@allowit328]

@@kevinsmarts9953 I have one now

[@supermanofficial]

journalistic accountability has been entirely subverted. it needs to be remade and bought back stronger for our modern time. and we need it now

[@niallrobertson6390]

I think the problem with this is Lord Starmer was very critical of Tory mp gifts and freebies. He also campaigned on integrity and honesty. Now couple this with austerity 2.0 or just the lack of positive spin from labour, well can you really blame people for being angry? Of course I understand it’s no different than other mps have done in the past, but I think the key word is “optics” it’s a massive political blunder much like the winter fuel allowance.

[@chad0x]

undeclared on the right, not a word said by the right. declared on the left but complained about by *most* party members and a load of Labour MPs. You're a hypocrite.

[@dwow0wowb]

Has James ever thought about how much influence does this donor have on the Labour Party at all? Is he a real journalist?

[@hugecahunas]

He’s a Starmer moonboy what do you expect?

[@Milominderbender586]

That’s the political system, parties rely on ‘donations’ I am less bothered about a Labour peer buying Starmer a suit than the Russians or Big Oil/ tobacco buying influence with the other parties

[@henryburton6529]

Tell me, what influence?

[@willieodea83]

​@@henryburton6529Brexit

[@jameswlong]

@@henryburton6529well enough to get a downing st pass for starters

[@jenniferevans4874]

Two wrongs don’t make a right ! You can’t excuse Starmer behaviour just because others have done similar

[@EvenLow-ps8dt]

James would be levitating with pure rage had this been the Conservatives and he knows it

[@steve11211]

Not our totally unbiased James, no no, I wont have it, he is an independant totally unbiased centralist.. He is not far left, its just everyone else is far Right, like those Far right Green's...

[@beandinner1262]

It's a pretty bad look to be accepting luxury items as gifts when the rest of us are being told to tighten our belts 🤷‍♂

[@SlowhandGreg]

This isn't a new story it's fake outrage by the media, if you don't want them accepting hospitality then write to your MP to change the rules. I'd rather it be declared and above board rather than under the table

[@georgef822]

If this was the Tories now you'd be going to town in your condemnation of them.

[@hobanagerik]

Yes, of course he would. Hypocrisy was expected on this.

[@DW-indeed]

Undeclared back handers buying influence and the Tory press don't care Vs declared donations, no evidence of influence (yet) and the Labour are the devil. Give your head a wobble.

[@HL-ui3zq]

Imagine the righteous indignation 😂

[@tmcd5049]

Except if it was the tories, the rules breaking would be transparent, and the sums involved would be vast. Thanks for playing, Barbie.

[@Olyfrun]

For what? Recieving donations, or something *even worse?*

[@gavinsmith9564]

If these people don't want influence in return for their 'gifts' then where do we all apply for our gifts from them ?

[@tonguelessghostofsin]

And here we are. James O'Brien only really made his name during the coalition/Tory years and seemed outraged at the lack of propriety, corruption and dishonesty. Many were wondering how he would pivot when there was finally a Labour government...and here you are. He represents the same "footballification" delusion he accuses others of. Defending Labour accepting bungs from anyone. Because that is what they are. Rich people don't shower favours without expecting contracts, policies, or sometimes promises to scrap policies.

[@arturobandini4078]

Is James playing dumb about this, or is he actually just dumb about this?

[@johnwhyte7834]

He doesn't like when his lot are dodgy like the last lot. His mask has come off.

[@MzeeMoja1]

No he is not, I agree with him. The right have mastered the art of qualifying nonsense for something of worthy.

[@crikeychief8582]

​@@MzeeMoja1And you most likely agree with free movement of anyone, and don't see a problem with it.

[@elainehardman1683]

Just dumb.

[@hammertic]

O brien is so indocrinated he will never see anything wrong with anything labour does. He's quite pathetic.

[@grahamleiper1538]

Just because it's been going on for years or the values involved are much less than their opposition took doesn't mean it should continue. I can't accept gifts from companies I work with as it would potentially be seen as a conflict of interest. Are politicians above that? This isn't the odd bottle of wine at Christmas, this is meaningful amounts of gifting, and people aren't giving their gifts for nothing.

[@andegallagher6645]

The fact he follows politics so deeply and doesnt realise both sides are going to f over the common person is hard to believe

[@MegaZayd1]

Its clearly a gift for influence, they should be allowed to take gifts at all. It doesn't matter that the rules allow for it, its something that shouldn't be allowed. Not for anybody

[@NotYourDay123]

OK sorry O’Brien but this is the sort of cronyism that the Tories partook in for 14 years and with correct condemnation from yourself. Labour shouldn’t be indulging in the same behaviour.

[@ibexdnb2879]

It's the political game they play. None of them are different...

[@Danny-is5if]

You obviously voted Labour, didn't you? You have been played and you need to accept it.

[@dc56789]

Trust James to defend champagne socialism. He once criticised private schooling then sent his own kids to one.

[@TeddyG-y6s]

Leftist hypocrisy…don’t do as I do… do as I say…

[@craiga657]

The point is Starmer spent every minute scrutinising the tories about ethics and cronyism yet turns out to have had the largest amount of personal donations in parliament since 2019 and has given several donors top jobs or governmental perks.

[@CBM902Q]

😂😂

[@ppensen]

You wont get through james' thick skull plus he's a bought and paid for labour puppet so forget it

[@johngreenhorn8853]

It's a bit like the snp up here,holier than thou and all that.

[@SandraT1107]

Evidence?

[@craiga657]

@@SandraT1107 have you been under a rock for the last month or so?

[@dredd2235]

Different rules when it's your tribe, eh James? Honestly these political pundits are hilarious with their blatant hypocrisy... Make a career out of bellyaching about every single thing from the "opposing" party but it's no big deal when it comes to their own. I'm pretty much a mix of views... Some left, some right... But I voted Labour to get Rishi out. And it seems to have made no difference to anything. If you vouch for someone you're meant to hold them to the highest standards, not make excuses because you want to "win" the argument.

[@mickreaddin4979]

Labour could pass a law within a week: no more freebies, gratuities etc etc for *all* MP's. We can talk about second jobs, donor money later.

[@GregOrCreg]

Of course they could. But they won't, because the Red Tories' snouts are in the same trough. Only by voting for proper principled progressive left-wingers, and not 'Sirs' like Starmer, will we ever get the Labour Party we deserve.

[@bigbinji6145]

we could effectively reduce the number of MPs by 400 ..........and keep pensioners warm through winter ...

[@perspicaciouscritic]

@mickreaddin4979 (who suggested): Labour could pass a law within a week: no more freebies, gratuities etc etc for all MP's. @prspicaciouscritic replies: Read the news: they did. Last Friday, the prime minister and other senior Labour ministers said they would no longer accept donations for clothing.

[@nickmarshall9192]

Its not the rights and wrongs Its the hypocrisy

[@FitraHomestead]

How can you be so against the conflict in the middle East currently, I am avoiding trigger words here. And at the same time defend the party who is currently fueling the conflict? James, today I see that you are a disingenuous person who speaks from both sides of his mouth.

[@paulharris1502]

Forked tongue syndrome.

[@colinwhite5355]

I feel like a freezing traveller invited in for a warm only to be offered a seat beside the fridge.

[@matthewtrow5698]

I like that "loveless landslide" idea - it is exactly that, very clever. We can all easily recall our own anecdotes in the run-up to the election. I remember chatting with my wife, the only thing we had any confidence about in terms of our voting direction was "anyone but Tory". How sad it was, then, that the official opposition had become Tory Lite, with nothing to offer but more of the same. And here we are ...

[@CBM902Q]

Did Labour break break any rules?

[@matthewtrow5698]

@@CBM902Q We know this isn't the point. It's the optics. If Labour hadn't have targeted pensioner winter fuel payments, I doubt this story would've had any legs. It is because of this policy that Labour find themselves in hot water. Therefore it demonstrates how tone deaf they are now in power - just like the Tories were.

[@joshwilliams0391]

No, I'm sorry but optics do matter, whether you like it or not. Especially in this social media age.

[@Right_Direction_]

Oh James, put down the bottle. Literally the most insufferable person on LBC.

[@colinpoole7653]

You did not have to add…on LBC to your statement.

[@ibexdnb2879]

I will fall out of my chair the day I hear James admit that Labour and all Politicians play the same game the same way..

[@darklighter66]

He is the anti Kuensberg. Will excuse anything Labour do.

[@verystripeyzebra]

Well they don't. Similarities, to a degree, but the same ...that's the Tory propaganda line.

[@ibexdnb2879]

​​@@verystripeyzebra No mate that is my astute observation. Similarities is too close. Do you seriously think Kier Starmer does not claim the same expenses that Boris did? Do you think Starmer panders to his donors any differently than Boris did? Do you think Starner will borrow money off the banks and drag the country further into debt just like Boris did? Do you think the lives of the people will improve under Starmer? Here we go again. I vote for no political party and never have since i was able to vote 16 years ago..

[@verystripeyzebra]

@@ibexdnb2879 yes. Things will improve.

[@darrylsugg7230]

You should be very angry because Starmer said he wanted to clean up politics. He has shown on numerous occasions a terrible sense of judgement by accepting these "legal" donations while the average Labour voter and electorate is suffering so much because of the last government actions. And as the old saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch!

[@philharry7213]

James Obrian loves the sound of his own voice

[@verystripeyzebra]

Er....he's a radio DJ hosting a talk show. I'm not sure it's a great job for a shy retiring quiet type.

[@chad0x]

A talk show host who talks? Oh No!

[@ec4150-k4f]

It feels like the right-wing media held back on criticising Labour during the election, only to hit them hard now that they're in power-over issues their preferred party handled even worse. The fact that this stuff is even coming up indicates how desperate they are to have something to talk about.

[@nicholawright317]

😂😂

[@philmayhem]

I don't subscribe to the argument that two wrongs make a right..ie, just because Boris did it bigger, doesn't mean that Kier has done nothing wrong. What we don't know is what donors get in return. As a member of the public, how does Lord Waheed Alli get a pass to Downing Street and I don't? In fact..how did he become Lord Alli.....Tony Blair made him a Lord because of his donations to the Labour Party.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

Corruption in public life is bad, especially of those who are paid by the public purse to represent their voters. It should be rooted out, and donations from the privileged 1% to MPs and political parties made illegal.

[@merkuree]

It doesn't take a genius to see that these gifts are buying influence, James, this is incredibly shoddy from you.

[@wolfen210959]

What influence did Keir Starmer have over the last 5 years? He was not a government minister, and his party was not in government. Compare the less than £20,000 that Keir Starmer received each year for 5 years, with the £200,000 that Robert Jenrick received in just one year when he WAS a government minister, or the £198,000 that Kemi Badenoch received last year alone, me thinks there is a lot of faux outrage going around.

[@merkuree]

@@wolfen210959 Listen mate, I understand you're dyiing to paint me as some kind of Tory, but I'm not. Pointing out that they aren't infallable doesn't make me the enemy, two things can be bad simultaneously.

[@JonLettsGuitars]

These “gifts’ Are not gifts and don’t come without some form of payment. They are used to sway political decisions.

[@MrKronz]

100%

[@nazb1982]

Should be taxing them not taking freebies from them.

[@petercolledge2236]

Yes, James, let us, the general public, try and remember the past few years when such egregious activities involving huge amounts of dosh were carried out almost on a daily basis.

[@stephenlaw6072]

only 1 person out ther who cant see labour are whrong is this guy for real no wonder his ratings are crashing

[@traceyscott2609]

It just stinks. It’s not about whether any law has been broken. None of these people are on 0 hour contracts, visiting food banks and need to take from a rich friend because they haven’t got enough 😢

[@Refflog]

James we are not talking about conservatives, we are talking now about labour excepting bribes, do 2 wrongs make a right????

[@richardjohn6639]

James you are so far up kier backside your starting to look like him

[@clementattlee6984]

James, the next time you get angry at 'client journalists' on the Right, remember this period and cringe with embarrassment. I hope you're paid enough to debase yourself by tonguing Starver's ring every day.

[@crayontom9687]

Haha yes. He’s pathetic

[@lucylawlessrules]

it’s embarrassing at this point

[@mustrumridcully3853]

@@crayontom9687 Yet here you are, listening and commenting - adding to the algorythm.

[@Ukandy19]

This guy talks about other peoples bias and in the same breath describes the issue being the ‘price of starmers spectacles’ - incredible 🤡

[@Cannon_Fodder_Russians]

Oh look. It's another recently purchased bot farm account.

[@Ukandy19]

@@Cannon_Fodder_Russians haha nice try sweetheart. Disagreeing with Labour doesn’t make me a bot. You lot are entertaining though so thanks for that 😂

[@nicholawright317]

​@@Cannon_Fodder_Russians absolute pratt

[@dentures]

Access James. They’re buying access.

[@patarciepaul]

Are they though??? It's a bit early to make an assumption like that.

[@MattitudePlays]

​@@patarciepaul the top and bottom of it is that both parties clearly act the same way and have a disregard for how it is perceived by the general public.

[@dentures]

@@patarciepaul after the Downing Street pass fiasco it really isn’t.

[@philbrainy2399]

James o brien up keirs backside as usual!

[@PaulBrady-tz7ph]

Only on Tuesdays

[@krisradjpaul278]

He loves the sound of his own voice.

[@Lee-k9y]

JoB being a hypocrite...what a shocker...😂

[@Retrozoid88]

Yeah james has proved to me now 100% bias to labour if you get angry about boris and wall paper then you should about clothes and glasses for kier's wife its litterally the same thing.

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

How to look a total clown in a few minutes.......

[@taminem90]

Sorry James, your tribalism is in fact showing here. Your what-aboutism arguments miss the point entirely. Everyday people are tired of politicians from all sides of the fence taking gifts, donations and hand outs from donors that clearly have a motive other than “because he’s me mate”. You’re better than this, pal.

[@johnrussell3961]

Starmer accepts he shouldn’t have done it , apologised for it, and declared he will not do it again. Compare that with Boris. He defended the huge gift which redecorated his Downing Street flat to the bitter end.

[@1972hermanoben]

Depressingly, that’s one reason why Bojo will always be more popular

[@Bdistrict20]

Why did he do it in the first place? And not defending Boris here, but let's admit they are the same unfortunately...

[@nazb1982]

Easy to say sorry after the event. If he doesn’t have the money to buy clothes himself how does he expect those subject to the 2 child benefit cap for example to manage

[@johnrussell3961]

@@Bdistrict20 No human is perfect. If you are seeking perfection , become a Buddhist. You win’t achieve it via the ballot box.

[@lokensicarius9347]

Talk is cheap.

[@mickreaddin4979]

Perception is the same as optics, and how many times did we hear James (rightly) condemn the Tories for the *perceptions* of wrongdoing.

[@neiljones4238]

James O Brien stumbling clumsily past his hypocrisy .Does he honestly think that listeners are fooled by his laborious rhetoric and that he wouldnt be screaming about the criminal disgusting behaviour of the party if it was the Tories. How long did he bang on about partygate and skip past currygate.

[@emale000]

Can't believe your blind devotion to Labour 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@LongbranchOlivetti]

You've not been paying attention to his scathing remarks on the winter fuel payment cuts then.

[@leekelly9639]

People aren’t angry about the free gifts, people are angry because they don’t know if their elderly relatives will make a cold winter, they are angry because the government might introduce pay per mile, they’re angry because the government claimed they would be different from the Tories, only to break their promises as soon as they got into power.

[@mjl2904]

People are just angry that they are broke

[@hughbasham4389]

In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king.

[@benzof5475]

Sorry james the guardian also reported this

[@MrDallman]

This man is so biased…..you’re a radio host ….try and be neutral and not use your slot on LBC as your own political soapbox ..Can’t stand to listen to him.

[@peterlloyd6337]

James O'Brien defending the indefensible Labour leadership. Suggest then - reading up about Ethics, Independence, not being behold to others due to compromising ones leadership position. Furthermore, perception is everything - anyone accepting gifts in this way and yet telling the public effectively times are tough. All on the back of Starmer telling us how he's bringing back credibility to politics - yeah right.

[@barbaracartwright2335]

I think what your saying James is a load of rollocks

[@SpikePBB]

Yeesssss Tory yessssss! Cry more, your tears bring me sustenance. 😭😈

[@djstuc]

Ironic comment here.

[@EagerSnowyOwl-qx5wx]

Oh dear. Mr. O'Brien reminds me of an old art teacher of mine who would try his hardest to "Get Down" with the kids by spouting cool platitudes, whilst at the same time being devoid of any real passion or indeed any artistic knowledge whatsoever. Of course we saw through him immediately. He turned out to be an absolute shallow nonentity of no substance.

[@gherkamum]

James...Rachel Reeves Will Be Lovely And Warm This Christmas🎄

[@fumbleBumble82]

I heard she's releasing a single this year... "Driving home the knife for Christmas".

[@azharmobin6595]

James, you're missing the point. Once you start taking gifts you are on the road to corruption and influence from different entities. Clothes today and mortgages and loans tomorrow. It does not matter if you are Labour or not.

[@chrisgcolling]

James talking about bent journalism with a straight face 😂

[@henryburton6529]

How is he bent?

[@chrisgcolling]

@@henryburton6529 just read the room 👀

[@ibexdnb2879]

​@@henryburton6529He spread misinformation during co vid and protects Labour at all costs....

[@henryburton6529]

@@ibexdnb2879 Can you send me a link of James spreading misinformation? Clue: you cant you just made it up

[@hughneal1866]

You see the thing is that James hated the Labour party when it was a socialist party funded by the membership as it looked like a threat to his beloved Establishment. Now it is being funded by the oligarchy the Establishment are safe so he can relax. No, we don’t expect James to be angry but watching himself twisting into a pretzel defending Labour corruption while simultaneously condemning the Tories for basically the same practices is just embarrassing.

[@AquariusGate]

James the apologist. Politicians are well paid. They should never be given handouts from anyone. If they can't survive on their pay and expenses, we can find a leader who can budget effectively.

[@firebyrd437]

Syarmers worth 5 million he doesn't need any gifts

[@johnrussell3961]

Sunak is worth 800 million and took far more in gifts.

[@simoncox9689]

@@firebyrd437 gets a gift from a friend an fellew labour party member is hardly a big deal

[@twofoursevenbeauty]

I agree. No personal gifts/donations EVER! Then no-one feels compromised.

[@verystripeyzebra]

Why are the Tory press making a song and dance a year after the gists were declared?

[@youtubeyoutube936]

2 weights two measures from the Labour broadcasting company

[@leehines1361]

I don’t really care but isn’t starmer a millionaire ? Surely he doesn’t need freebies ?

[@Anon-commenter]

Labour propaganda at its finest

[@anewsortofgramophone]

You losing a lot of credibility with this. This goes to the core of why the system is so rigged in the first place, which I thought was one of your key messages, maybe I got it wrong. It’s the principle.

[@RonanGallagherBand]

Double standards. Labour as bad as Tories. Snouts already in the trough in just eight weeks.

[@sharonedwards6641]

Public mood is created from what the media tell us to be angry about

[@ewenkelly6646]

My goodness to read what some of the muppets have said on here its disappointing, there is no hope

[@craiglancastermarr4016]

James is in the wrong on this one.

[@---df5sr]

How many haircuts has James got left?

[@agbook2007]

Complete double standard, James.

[@Olyfrun]

How so? I'd love to hear it, I've been saying exactly what he's said for the last week or so.

[@jurisbogdanovs1]

James is absolutely delusional and lives in his own personal world of self deceit.

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

There is against the rules vs against the sprit of fairness.... Just give back the money Starmer.

[@shaun906]

lol

[@katfeline3781]

He hasn't broken any rules though.

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

@@katfeline3781 Really? Can you not read?

[@JosephClarke-ej5cm]

Politicians should have to wear their sponsors like formula 1 drivers.

[@simonaveline5542]

James knows who is signing his bonus...

[@monkeymagic4555]

Oh dear this is the world we now live in 2 months down the line and the Labour Spuperfan is doing U turns........

[@rprobp186]

Jo’b losing even more credibility as a journalist with his hypocrisy

[@bumache]

Whatever happened to public service? It's a privilege to be able to serve your country and this should be reward in itself. This is not about an old lady giving him a box of roses at XMass. This is legalised corruption. MP's have voted to allow it but it doesn't make it right. This gift taking is an opportunity to influence. It puts poor people at the back of the queue.

[@philiphorrocks6107]

oh james stop this, james your justifieing curruption

[@WalterKhayyam]

James O'Brien only sees corruption if a Brexiteer is doing it...

[@NeilMendham]

The sheer hypocrisy and double standards by which these two parties are being held is contemptible. If you follow the money, you find the root cause is always the same - media owned by oligarchs who have something to gain, driving the wasteful narrative whilst we are all of us being squeezed to keep the very same oligarchs rich.

[@TromaDogg]

'The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.'

[@garylake1676]

James, James, James, you cannot be serious about these stories, there is no such thing in this life as a 'free lunch'.

[@HellraiserBoxing]

Disgraceful corruption from 'the working people's' party...

[@danmayberry1185]

Laura Kuenssberg left her interview with Angela Rayner empty handed. Each accusation was a damp squib; each response cool and direct. A shut out.

[@jeffsimon9594]

That's the way the newly installed politburo rolls

[@firebyrd437]

She's engaged a photographer at 68k using public funds to photograph her. She's no better than the tories

[@A_random_nerd_with_braces]

Except that lots of people are still furious at her.

[@danmayberry1185]

@@A_random_nerd_with_braces Lots of people enjoy jellied eels. Right-wing voters and their press will throw everything they can at Labour to whatabout their way out of the last 8-14 years. It's going to take some doing.

[@ronmastrio2798]

How much are you getting "gifted" from the labour party to run this laughable damage control?

[@JeffJeff-b3f]

Imagine this dude as your son or worse off your dad

[@bigbadbith8422]

It depends entirely on why the gift was offered and then accepted. And it is for the PM to explain those circumstances to the satisfaction of the public.

[@pickeledminister317]

O'Brian is an establishment stenographer.

[@R6AAO]

The point is hypocrisy. Something LBC seems to be blind to.

[@brainworm666]

Tax avoidance isn’t illegal but I’ll certainly look down on any in the political class engaging in such behaviour.