Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reimbursed more than £6,000 for gifts and hospitality he received since taking office, following criticism over donations from wealthy donors. The payments cover a range of items, including Taylor Swift concert tickets, horse racing passes, and a clothing rental agreement connected to high-end designer Edeline Lee, favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.
The prime minister’s decision comes after weeks of public and political scrutiny over the acceptance of gifts by both Sir Keir and other members of his cabinet. In response to this backlash, Starmer has pledged to overhaul the rules surrounding ministerial hospitality to enhance transparency.
During a statement in Brussels on Wednesday, the prime minister addressed the issue, confirming his government’s intention to introduce new principles for handling donations. He acknowledged that, until now, politicians have relied on their own judgement regarding such matters and stated his commitment to creating clearer guidelines. He also explained that in the meantime, he felt it appropriate to repay the costs of specific donations.
A Downing Street spokesperson later confirmed that updates to the ministerial code are forthcoming and will include a new set of standards related to gifts and hospitality, initiated by the prime minister. The spokesperson added that Sir Keir had already covered several items from his register of interests, which would be reflected in the next official update.
Among the items repaid are six Taylor Swift concert tickets provided by Universal Music Group, with a combined value of £2,800, two tickets from the Football Association at £598, and four tickets to Doncaster Races from Arena Racing Corporation, costing £1,939. Additionally, Sir Keir has repaid £839 for a clothing rental arrangement with designer Edeline Lee, which also included hair and makeup services for his wife, Lady Victoria, who recently wore the designer at London Fashion Week.
Furthermore, the prime minister repaid a total of £6,134 for “clothing and personal support” given to Lady Starmer in June by Labour donor Lord Alli. The details of these repayments have been published in the latest register of MPs’ interests.
This move comes amidst an ongoing investigation into Lord Alli, who is being scrutinised for allegedly failing to register his own interests. Sir Keir refused to comment on the investigation, stating that it would “run its course.” He also reaffirmed that he would no longer accept clothing donations in his role as prime minister.
Earlier this year, Sir Keir defended the acceptance of clothing donations, explaining that they were made during a hectic election campaign. In addition to Sir Keir’s repayments, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner declared £836 in hospitality for attending a DJ event over the summer, which was sponsored by Ayita LLC.