Keir Starmer risks being a hypocrite over freebies | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

[@lewis123417]

Almost every council worker signs a strict contract about taking gifts, why is that not the case for rich politicians who actually dont need any gifts

[@PortilloMoment]

Council workers don't get to make their own rules.

[@lewis123417]

@@PortilloMoment true

[@PMMagro]

Because they decided it is not necessary THEMSELVES. I wonder why...

[@MarySheridan-hl8bi]

So true! I would get the sack for accepting a chocolate biscuit 😢

[@veronicanicholls7132]

Risks being a hypocrite, he is bloody hypocrite.

[@timwoodger7896]

It’s how they spin sht to soften the argument and sow benefit of the doubt.

[@chrismartin5870]

These politicians get free this, that and the other. Live in a completely different world. No wonder they are happy with UK pay, their salaries are a fraction of their take hope wealth. A complete joke.

[@172louis]

Right, he's already proved that over and over within just two months.👍

[@russellfrancis6294]

Yeah he's already done it.

[@dingopisscreek]

I was going to say the same thing - you beat me to it. 👍

[@markhayward7400]

There are no freebies in politics. If, as a politician, you accept a gift you place yourself under an obligation, implied or otherwise, for the favour you have received. All politicians and their immediate families should be prevented in law from accepting any gifts or benefits in kind. This step is needed, clearly, to keep them honest.

[@antonywilliams5703]

I have to take issue with your phrase "keep them honest" as it implies they were honest in the first place.

[@stevec6232]

I dont understand why civil servants and most private firms have strict policy on gifts but politicians have a constant gravy train of free gifts everywhere. Why is it legal?

[@baronvontrap3325]

I suspect it's 'legal' because the payments are in the form of political contributions. If they were from companies to civil servants then the Bribery Act 2010 would apply. - Convenient isn't it? www.gov.uk/government/publications/bribery-act-2010-guidance.

[@PortilloMoment]

Because politicians make rules on what is both allowable and illegal. They're self-appointed referees in their own game.

[@blipboop5594]

Politicians and political parties exist on donations by their nature

[@eldrago19]

Who writes the laws?

[@andyduggan7810]

Last Christmas one of our suppliers sent my team a box of Quality Street. Our HR department told me I had to fill in a form to document its receipt. And then donate it to a food bank. Value of gift: £4.50. Clearly Mr Starmer follows a different rule book.

[@julianshepherd2038]

That's because you aren't rich and powerful.

[@roger_welco]

Risks? He Risks being hypocrite? He already is.

[@ArtSmart91]

Nice to see the new statesman’s non-aggression pact with kier starmer his inner circle is still rock strong. Wonder what they are going to do at the next election when Labour looses it big majority because people realise how clueless they are!

[@JB_inks]

The only person to defend Kid Starver is James O'Brien. What an absolute bell

[@WhoNeedsNME]

He didn't defend him as such. Merely pointed out the only reason we know about this issue is because Starmer has registered them correctly.

[@JB_inks]

@@WhoNeedsNME he engaged in a lot of whataboutery

[@WhoNeedsNME]

Pointed out the faux outrage from elements of the press when compared to Johnson etc. He did say it wasn't a good look though. @@JB_inks

[@hughwilson2219]

Andrew is defending him here.

[@russellfrancis6294]

The guy with the crybaby face?

[@joshua6244]

Free gear Keir and Victoria sponge.

[@colbr6733]

Sadly we still have media professionals explaining away social issues by the lack of growth with GDP. This lack of direct engagement with ordinary people who have been directly affected by huge social change impacting their normal way of life is a real problem. Ireland shows very clearly GDP isn't an effective metric to properly evaluate conditions affecting the quality of life of all citizens.

[@PortilloMoment]

Our media has an important function vital for the continued existence of society as we know it. And since the people who own our media ... "....don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table to figure out how badly they’re getting f*cked by a system that threw them overboard 30 f*cking years ago." G. Carlin. ... we get the media the owners think is best for them, not us.

[@John-p7i5g]

Huge social change is a small price to pay for the UK's transformation into a nirvana of equality and multiculturalism.

[@annaclarke7643]

@@John-p7i5gAre you having a laugh?

[@crayontom9687]

He is a hypocrite. All that nonsense about the ‘grownups’ being back in the room and we find out that actually, they just wanted to get their hands in the till. Lower than a snake’s belly

[@pamplemouse5]

Exactly. Who are these "grownups" (I hate that Americanism) they speak of? For me, * adults should not leave public services to private enterprises, they should not be taking gifts from massively rich 'donors', they should be repairing the country after this decade and a half of it being smashed to pieces.

[@alanhat5252]

If we vote for children we get children 😢

[@csharpe5787]

To be fair, their hands aren’t in the till, but are being enticed into the gingerbread house. They’ll have to pay back in some kind for what they have taken.

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

He doesn't risk being a hypocrite he is one. ffs will someone in Labour get honest for once. Will one of these MPs grow a pair and call him out. Towing the party line is a choice between right and wrong if you have a moral code.

[@avae5343]

Risks being a hypocrite? He and Reeves are unbelievable. They both are paid a tremendous amount of money, already have expense accounts and still need someone else to buy their clothes? This is ludicrous. Get real.

[@deadandburied7626]

The stupidity is ACCEPTING the gifts offered. No crime in being offered them, but TAKING gifts is naive.

[@csharpe5787]

Just because he’s declared them doesn’t make it right!

[@BrianPhillipShields]

The gifts are a bad look, but what about the 4 million pound donation from a Cayman island based hedge fund prior to the election? Any idea why Starmer and Reeves don't want to tax the rich more?

[@j.4332]

Im sorry,he "risks" being a hypocrite?He passed that point about 5 years ago by the sound of it?Lets vote Labour into big trouble next May.

[@SlowhandGreg]

I'm still voting Labour, 24k a year in freebies is slightly over average for someone not in Government and he is the Leader after I looked into it. The big gravy train numbers are on the Tory side in government.

[@j.4332]

@@SlowhandGreg Oh dear.Really?There was a table on Sky News,that showed Stalin has pocketed over £60000 MORE than the second placed MP in freebies.There were more Labour MPs than Tory,or it was 50-50 .Still if you enjoy despotism,its cheaper then moving to N Korea i guess.Enjoy!

[@anonUK]

Devil or deep blue sea? The Tories or the wannabe Tories?

[@oliverdesvaux]

“Risks”being a hypocrite?! He went to a private school and “climbed the ladder,” but now wants the ladder pulled up for the generations behind him. (Plus all the other countless examples of rank hypocrisy)

[@Fre667Roger-Ring]

He's a horrible human being, he as no moral compass and hurts the people that gave him the election, they won't ever forget. Greedy emotionally bankrupt. Is time will come.

[@Macoosy]

Just been drinking around the bars in Sunderland. Can’t believe how sick people are of this government already

[@Mika-lr4zh]

Starmer will go down as the worst politician in living memory. People will never forget that his first action was to remove old people’s winter fuel allowance.

[@PatriciaHennessey-om8zb]

This whilst receiving £350.000 per year locked in pension

[@Schiltron]

Marr: The people who I meet at the Labour party conferences are the normal people of Britain. Really!!?? Dream on! The people who immerse themselves in politics and attend party conferences of any political party are not the norm or anywhere near it!!

[@tonkerdog1]

He thinks they're normal, because they're as isolated from reality as he is,

[@eldrago19]

I do think that it is a shame that there has been such a decline in political engagement, but if you think you'd do a better job than the people who attend conference, there's a simple solution: go yourself! On the other hand, perhaps it is sensible that people who are willing to put the effort and time into engaging with politics should have a greater say in how it is conducted. But then again, you can keep voting every 5 years and complaining online about the quality of politicians that gets you and see if that changes anything.

[@surpriserakins9067]

​@@eldrago19i don't think anyone criticised those who attend party conferences. They point is that they cannot be regarded as representative of the general public.

[@anonUK]

Go to a political conference and help change things from within, then!

[@stephenholmes1036]

Private Eye have been discussing Mr/Mrs Starmer's gifts for some time now ! Like Horizon, Time for the NS to catch up!

[@tonkerdog1]

The worst government ive ever experienced. How bad do you have to be when Liz truss looked like a safe pair of hands relatively. Hes an average middle manager at best.

[@Nansf]

Just imagine Miliband in charge of anything, the mind boggles

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

Free gear kier is a bloody hypocrite.

[@robeastham5357]

Receiving over 107k in gifts and entertainment feels quite sniffy. Reminds me of the MP expense scandal of the latter Blair years. A PM who stood on “clean integrity and government of service” ticket, who is also a knight of the realm must not be receiving these big value purchases from their “friends”. The British people didn’t throw out the Tories to get the same lack of ethics and integrity from the Labour Party. Shocking!

[@iggysfriend4431]

"Keir Starmer risks being a hypocrite over freebies." No, he doesn't risk it, he's outed himself and removed all doubt.

[@kaseycornflakes1234]

We keep on pushing `equality` - well now, let`s prove it. Seeing that most voters have been deeply disappointed when the two main Parties have taken power, it is surely only right to give Reform a chance to disappoint us too.

[@tigermax2697]

People often criticise Oasis for their similarity to The Beatles but that is unfair because they also rip off Slade

[@djmattblack]

And Status Quo and T-Rex and...

[@Nansf]

A 4 day working week from home is not the way to growth

[@richardhall7822]

Another excellent piece of analysis and some great insight and wise words from the NS team.

[@peterwiles7953]

They can say no rules were broken till they are blue in the face but it’s the morality of the subject, just goes to show they all have their snouts in the trough.

[@hughwilson2219]

presumably the rules are not broken because they make the rules?

[@georgethompson453]

Will Starmer have to do his speech from a hospitality box?

[@Mika-lr4zh]

Andrew Marr, I’ve never heard so much rubbish from one person in my life !

[@denisdaly1708]

he is unethical, and lacks self awareness. Unfit to be pm

[@WakeupAndsmelltherosemarys]

So called government of service. Unparalleled hypocrisy from Stalinistic Starmer

[@YesYes-xb6he]

Risks!!! He's a bigger hypocrite after 3 months than 14 years of Conservative PrimeMinisters managed to archive.

[@jimboakimbo54]

That's an enormous stretch. I agree he is a hypocrite and I'm no fan of him but you cannot seriously call him more of a hypocrite than someone like Johnson.

[@alanhat5252]

​@@jimboakimbo54he also compares with Johnson on the lying 😢

[@YesYes-xb6he]

@jimboakimbo54 Johnson never claimed to be holier than thou, everyone knew he was a spiv beforehand

[@stevedavidson666]

Total and utter bullshit. Jeez but you people just can't stand the fact that at last England has got a PM who actually knows what he's doing and has the background to prove it. Oooh but it obviously hurts and I'm loving it.

[@alanhat5252]

@@stevedavidson666 forecast 4,000 pensioners dead. Presumably your Gran is already dead?

[@twonewns]

Labour conference where members vote for PR and keir starmers says no

[@Claire-dg3gh]

On what grounds, where is his power to not comply with members wishes coming from. Why is the CEO overruling the decisions board.

[@jamesgrindon8560]

He does not risk it he is a hyprocrite full stop

[@bronson9836]

Wake up! They are all on the Gravy train.

[@liaminwales]

It's all talk, smiles. Round the back it's jobs for pals, free gifts and hobnobbing with the rich. It's clear he helps the rich not the normal people.

[@geekexmachina]

They should just do the conferences in the summer holidays

[@baronvontrap3325]

As many have said he makes enough to buy his own clothes and specs. Why the f***k does he need to make himself look obliged to anybody? He's not stupid, so it looks like he just doesn't care. Presumably all his 'media savvy' advisers were too busy bitching about Sue Gray's salary and how badly they have been treated to actually do their jobs. He reminds me of Obama. First raising peoples hopes while all the time cosying up to the financiers and wealthy then once in office leaving the poor and the middle disaffected and disengaged. Once the Tories and Reform finish their courtship, we’ll end up in the same boat with 50% turnouts and elections decided on small margins in a handful of seats. That’s how the US ended up with Trump. We have ten years if we are lucky.

[@tobyFOTS]

Free gear Keir making an important speech haha sure...

[@chm1701]

I’m not overly worried about this. There’s more important things to think about, however, it doesn’t look great. Also, according to a story on the BBC in July, he’s entitled to two salaries; one as an MP and the other as the PM. All in all, it works out to a little over £172k. You’d have thought it would be enough? Granted, I understand that some of these ‘freebies’ were as far back as 2019 and the difference in this case, is that he has declared them.

[@evildude951]

What, the human rights lawyer who said that Israel had a right to deny Gaza of food and water? A hypocrite? Colour me shocked

[@caloricphlogistonandthelum4008]

Andrew, anyone risks being a hypocrite by taking any stance, it's if you go on to be one that counts.... or not.

[@hughmckendrick3018]

There should be know free anything to any politian but I find it very rich that tories are now up in arms about now they are out of power. A party who's donors recieved massive public contracts!

[@csharpe5787]

Give it here Keir!

[@martineyles]

I have to go through anti-bribery and corruption training every year, and based on that if I took gifts like Keir Starmer has from a potential supplier to my company, not only would I be fired, but I would be in court for corruption, facing potentially 10 years in jail, and my company would be in court to demonstrate that they had done everything possible to prevent corruption or face an unlimited fine.

[@anthonyferris8912]

The 'normal people of Britain' do NOT go to party conferences. They don't even watch them on TV.

[@CatholicSatan]

Party conferences are important... for external democracy? Puh-leez... I remember watching the Tory party conference just before Margaret Thatcher got into No. 10 and was convinced by the smug, fact-free, policy-free speeches that she didn't stand a chance. But the English electorate obviously took _no_ notice of that conference and voted her in anyway. Subsequent conferences have not been notably different.

[@johndean1634]

So if we all Club Together and buy the PM a New Suit and Glasses we can all get a Pass to Number 10. Yea Right the Suits and Glasses come with a promise to pay back in some way or another. Normal Folk call it Greasing the Palm or Currying Favour. Clear and Transparent. Only when they are Caught Out. Then its what we call trying to Limit the Damage and Avoid being Sacked or Dismissed

[@willalm830]

Revealed: MPs accepted more than £700,000 in free gifts and hospitality last year Furore over freebies like tickets to Taylor Swift concerts and football games has led to calls for reform to MPs’ gift declarations and an overhaul of the ministerial code

[@timwoodger7896]

Starmer is so confident that he’s here to stay and has shown his true colours to early in the game but it doesn’t matter as he knows the next few elections will be between labour and reform U.K. reform may have an ever growing number of voters but they also have an ever growing number of people that don’t want them in power so it’s going to be if you don’t vote labour you will get reform U.K. for the next decade. Starmer has nothing to fear for quite some time.

[@jonhenson1991]

Labour NEEDS to announce a public VOTE to determine whether politicians should accept donations... ASAP... The tories will go APESH*T!!! ... Do it ASAP ... The media will get the blame for their storm in a teacup.

[@andrewballard2564]

Is not any items given free is a bribe. No more freebies From companies and bosses other than your own boss

[@tomthumb2361]

It's becoming difficult to believe that the Labour Party has a better grasp of the country's needs and the ways these might be met than even the utterly useless Tories. In my job, you had to surrender gifts other than chocs or the odd bottle of wine at Xmas, not just declare them. Keeping them would have caused resentment from several different quarters and left us open to accusations of favouritism and corruption. Politicians clearly have no feeling for or grasp of the words 'ethos' and 'ethics'.

[@Red-px1fr]

"It's really important for ministers to realise... .... they are part of a movement of people with values" Hahaha. When's your new stand-up tour Andrew?

[@ryandudley3616]

“Risks” 😂

[@tewman4943]

Lord Alli throwing his money about seems to be cropping up a bit too much. It all smells of political corruption. I'm sure the truth of his gift giving will emerge in the very near future!

[@Porto-m5w]

Massive disconnect from the new Labour establishment. I'm a pensioner who voted Lib Dem and helped Labour into power. And this is how we are treated. Freebees and favours to the elite. You have got to do better.

[@mikerobb8838]

hypocrite defines freebie gear Kier

[@j.4332]

Ive noticed his face has got flatter since he became P.M.Probably with having his face so deep in the trough i guess?

[@robertyoung8785]

Risks? He is a hypocrite.

[@williambelford9661]

Hold Party Conferences during the summer recess, there is absolutely no reason to stop Parliament from functioning for Party, not Parliamentary, business.

[@trashman1358]

Legalised corruption.

[@Schiltron]

It doesn't matter whether they are venal Tories or holier than thou Labour, getting their snouts in the Westminster trough always seems to appeal. Funny that.

[@stevewhite658]

Risks? Behave we all know the answer to that unless you live in the Swamp!

[@MJ-tg7wv]

Doesn't risk - he IS

[@terrancehall9762]

It isn't just a "rally" in the US. Conventions aren't that much different from party conferences. Plenty of meetings and party platforms developed.

[@keithclinch1303]

Risks? He has done only bad things!!

[@Oldfogey2014]

Does he accept luncheon vouchers or gets his groceries paid?

[@ianmerry1]

Good Public Servants give not take

[@patbarrows8929]

The conference’s are just a way of getting a free holiday and booze.

[@gavingerard2053]

I cancelled my LAB membership last week. Dire so far, Streeting the only Cabinet minister who appears to communicate effectively. Starmer will be lucky to lead LAB in to the next GE.

[@predator9982]

It’s like his “everyone’s laughing at my dad the toolmaker” nonsense. Judgement way off.

[@kierandoran8196]

Caught by the balls Stamer. Typical Tory.

[@janooms9482]

Why are we paying politicians to spend time at party conferences? Party conferences are not public service nor parliame tary or constituency work. Let them attend in their own time at their own expense and not at ours.

[@troop73oo]

Never thought I could be so disappointed and feel so betrayed with the election of a Labour government with a huge landslide.

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

It's the same old tosh every year, don't matter who's in power

[@johnallen3423]

The "proof of the pudding" is in the eating especially for pensioners. Labour needs to reconsider this policy.

[@brianatkinson4407]

Boris number two

[@antonywilliams5703]

Imagine calling the human rights lawyer who took 6 months to call for a ceasefire in Gaza a hypocrite.

[@whatsthisnow101]

The act of taking gifts covered 2 points, which were mostly optics, the main concern is what are these gifts buying?

[@nandc61]

Mr Marr, you couldn't stop telling us what an honest bloke Starmer is he will be a breath of fresh air unlike Truss! Well your opinion has proved to be worth nought, but you will still keep pushing your unreliable views, have you any respect for yourself or is your ego too big?

[@colinfrancis7229]

Interesting to see Andrew Marr bubbling to the surface as an advisor to Labour. I had previously thought he was an impartial BBC presenter of news. What next? Huw Edwards advising the Lib Dems?

[@tomg268]

My word, Andrew Marr is getting more right wing since the election

[@tom5216]

So far this Labour government has defined those who should be looked after as those on benefits and immigrants. The rest of us can go to hell. His comment when asked who he regarded as working class was “Anyone without savings”. Says it all. If you’ve worked hard, been prudent and saved you are a TARGET!

[@aurelius5961]

Keir faces great challenges but he is the best man for the job. It can be done with dedication to dialogue and collaboration

[@terryT-r5o]

What puzzles me and try as I have, I can’t get to the bottom of it. Everyone is talking about the £105k of free gifts , but this is a small subset of the ~£900k he received over the course of the last parliament. So what happened to the rest and why is no one talking about it. £900k!

[@davidclark4653]

Completely agree with Andrew. There are a lot of ‘Special Advisors’ and Civil Servants that need to grow up and stop behaving like children. Sue Gray is obviously getting on with things in a professional manner. The PM also needs to put dissenters back in their box or preferably out.

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Yes, I agree. To make such blunders risks ruining his period as PM. OK, these were ‘perks’ given mainly when he was Leader of the Opposition and, let’s not ignore the fact that, unlike the Tories, he did declare them. However, he was being incredibly naive and lacked sound judgement in accepting the gifts.

[@janohara6995]

There are rules about MPs accepting gifts - Starmer has complied. Johnson and Sunak both BROKE the rules. If the media/people don't like the rules, perhaps the discussion should be about changing the rules. Holding one person to a higher standard - now that's hypocrisy.

[@siuhungchan8745]

Politicians are really disgusting!

[@josephhoward3558]

'Risks being a hypocrite' ???

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

Risks, Risks, bit late for that

[@GregoryKodolanyiRitter]

Risks? He is.

[@owentuckett938]

It is not a good look. Stop the Tory-like crap and start being Labour!

[@FishingFan2]

You haven't caught on yet, have you? Labour doesn't exist anymore, it's the new British Communist Party.

[@dcoughla681]

The party is Labour in name only. It’s owned by its rich donors with the unions donating less than they used to. It’s not been for the working class for decades.

[@MrNewtonian]

It's too late for Starmer, he's become a joke.

[@owentuckett938]

@@dcoughla681 Agreed.

[@tom5216]

The Labour party was always full of freeloaders and grifters. This is nothing new.

[@hughwilson2219]

Taking string vests and Y fronts from a 'donor' is awful Andrew! It's corruption. Taking sports freebies is even worse. It's pathetic! It's grovelling.