Sir Keir Starmer: What are the rules on UK politicians accepting gifts?

Why is the premier curate successful this situation, and what are the rules governing politicians accepting gifts and hospitality?

The Sunday Times revealed that Sir Keir accepted apparel for his wife, Victoria, Lady Starmer from Labour donor Lord Alli earlier and aft the Labour authorities won the wide predetermination successful July. The erstwhile Asos president paid for the outgo of clothes, alterations and a idiosyncratic shopper.

A contention arose due to the fact that the premier curate failed to state the donations successful the registry of MPs’ interests wrong the designated clip limit. He approached the parliamentary authorities to registry the high-end covering gifts connected 17 September, the Sunday Times reported.

Sir Keir has said it was “very important” to him that rules are followed and that “we person transparency”. “And that’s why, soon aft the election, my squad reached retired for proposal connected what declaration should beryllium made, truthful it’s successful accordance with the rules,” helium said.

The premier curate has accepted a fig of shot tickets, including the usage of a firm container astatine Arsenal shot club, which statesman astatine £8,750 per game. “I’m a monolithic Arsenal fan. I can’t spell into the stands due to the fact that of information reasons,” Sir Keir said. “Therefore, if I don’t judge a acquisition of hospitality, I can’t spell to a game. You could say, ‘well, atrocious luck’. That’s wherefore gifts person to beryllium registered.”

“But ne'er going to an Arsenal crippled again due to the fact that I can’t judge hospitality is pushing it a spot far,” helium continued.

The Government website states that MPs person to registry immoderate gifts oregon donations they person wrong 28 days of receiving them, which is wherefore the premier curate has faced criticism.

The rules further authorities that immoderate gifts worthy much than £300 indispensable beryllium formally registered, and that erstwhile gifts with a worth of implicit £500 are offered, an MP indispensable guarantee they person travel from a “permissible donor” who is registered successful the UK. It is mandatory that MPs supply the sanction and code of the donor, the worth of the acquisition and the dates erstwhile it was accepted and received erstwhile registering a acquisition oregon donation.

Regarding hospitality, members “should not promote concern contacts to supply hospitality to them, oregon indirectly to different colleagues, friends oregon relatives”. It is considered due to judge a “working lunch, meal oregon attendance astatine an yearly stakeholder event” wherever it is: