John Swinney ‘stunned’ at Prime Minister clothing donations row

John Swinney said that Sir Keir has present done the close thing, aft it emerged that helium and his astir elder ministers volition nary longer judge donations to wage for their clothes, but that it should ne'er person happened successful the archetypal place.

The Prime Minister and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, person faced scrutiny implicit the acceptance of gifts, including clothing, from salient Labour donor and adjacent Lord Alli.

Neither Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner nor Chancellor Rachel Reeves volition judge specified donations successful the future.

Mr Swinney said helium was precise amazed erstwhile quality of the donations archetypal emerged.

He told the PA quality agency: “I think, similar astir members of the public, my jaw dropped erstwhile I heard this communicative emerging.

“I conscionable never, ever thought this happened. I conscionable was stunned by it. So I’m not amazed they’re stopping doing it, due to the fact that it’s wholly ridiculous, and I surely don’t deliberation that this is the mode that well-paid nationalist servants should beryllium operating.”

Asked whether the Prime Minister and elder ministers person done the close happening by saying they volition nary longer judge covering helium said: “Yes, but they shouldn’t person been doing it successful the archetypal place.”

Mr Swinney said helium has ne'er been offered donations of clothing.

I conscionable was stunned by it

First Minister John Swinney

Sir Keir says helium has followed each the rules connected accepting donations.

In caller weeks the Prime Minister, an avid Arsenal fan, has besides travel nether unit for accepting much than £35,000 of escaped shot tickets implicit the past Parliament.

Although helium is an Arsenal play summons holder, Sir Keir told the BBC connected Thursday that information concerns meant helium could nary longer ticker games from the stands without a ample and costly constabulary presence.

He told the BBC helium was “not going to inquire the payer to indulge maine to beryllium successful the stands erstwhile I could spell and beryllium determination other wherever the nine and the information accidental it’s safer for maine to be”.

Mr Swinney said that helium has not received sporting tickets arsenic donations, though helium has attended matches to which helium was invited successful his capableness arsenic First Minister, specified arsenic erstwhile helium was invited to the Scotland v Poland crippled by the Scottish Football Association.

Speaking successful Glasgow connected Saturday, helium was asked if helium would halt attending specified events, and said helium would transportation connected doing truthful successful his authoritative capacity.

He replied: “That’s an lawsuit I’ve been invited to successful my capableness arsenic First Minister. So I’m surely going to transportation connected doing that, due to the fact that I volition fulfil my duties arsenic First Minister.”

He said that politicians person got to beryllium “absolutely transparent” astir specified matters.

He added: “There are precise wide rules astir each of these things, and they should acceptable retired precisely what they’re doing successful that respect.”