3 days Ago
The prime minister has said it is "very important...
that the rules are followed" after becoming embroiled in a row about a donor paying for his wife's clothes. The Conservatives are calling for an investigation into Sir Keir Starmer over a possible breach of parliamentary rules after he failed to declare his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli, paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer. Politics live: Starmer in Rome to discuss migration A Number 10 spokesperson told Sky News it was an oversight that had been corrected after it "sought advice from the authorities on coming to office".
But it raised further questions over whether Sir Keir and his wife needed to have clothes donated to them when the prime minister's annual salary is around £160,000. Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News This year alone, Sir Keir has received - and disclosed - nearly £19,000 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses from Lord Alli, the former chairman of online fashion retailer Asos, The Times reported. In addition, the peer, whose personal wealth is estimated at £200m, spent £20,000 on accommodation for the now prime minister during the election and a similar sum on "private office" costs, which was also disclosed, the paper said.
MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days of receiving them, but it is understood the donations for Lady Victoria's clothes were submitted late. Asked about the row while on a trip to Rome, the prime minister said: "It's very important to me that the rules are followed. I've always said that.
I said that before the election. I reinforced it after the election. "And that's why shortly after the election, my team reached out for advice on what declarations should be made so it's in accordance with the rules.
"They then sought out for further advice more recently, as a result of which they've made the relevant declarations." Read more from Sky News: Starmer to explore Albania migration deal MP tells of how she was given four days to live Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free Sir Keir added: "For me, it's really important that the rules are followed. "That's why I was very pleased my team reached out proactively, not once, but twice, because it is very important that we have transparency, very important that you and others can see the rules are being followed.
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