PM dismisses speak of taxpayer-funded wardrobe amid row over spouse’s garments

Keir Starmer has dismissed suggestions taxpayers’ should foot the bill for his wardrobe after a row over designer clothes gifted to his wife by a Labour donor.

The Prime Minister slapped down comparisons with the US, where the President gets a generous expense allowance, and said the public shouldn’t be forced to pay. But he signalled he would carry on accepting donations despite the mounting row.

It comes after the PM was accused of breaking Commons rules by failing to declare donations of clothes and a personal shopper for his wife Victoria during the election campaign by Labour donor Lord Alli. MPs are required to report gifts within 28 days under Parliament’s rules.

No10 sought fresh advice last week and made a late declaration on the gifts to the PM’s wife. The Conservatives have written to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner calling for an investigation after the gifts were not initially declared in the register of MPs’ interests.

Mr Starmer defended himself, saying he’s a stickler for the rules, and the matter had come to light after his team clarified what he should be declaring. And he told reporters in Rome: “I certainly don’t think we should have a budget for it at taxpayers’ expense.”

At the weekend Foreign Secretary David Lammy defended the donations – pointing out that in the US, senior politicians can claim for clothing from the public purse. The US President receives a salary of around £305,000 ($400,000) and a £38,100 ($50,000) expenses allowance – although there is no specific clothing budget.

Earlier Home Secretary Yvette Cooper slapped down the suggestion, saying: “No, of course not. That’s not the way that we do things in this country.” Mr Starmer signalled he would carry on accepting donations – and said he couldn’t give up going to watch Arsenal after facing criticism for taking free tickets.

Mr Starmer said: “All MPs get gifts. The rules then say, over a certain value, you’ve got to declare the gifts, so everybody can see what it was, how much it was, who it came from, and so that you and others can ask questions about it. That’s a good framework.”

He said his team had sought clarity on the donations for Lady Starmer from Lord Alli – and said he was “very consistent with following the rules”. The Arsenal-mad PM said he wouldn’t give up all hospitality, as he can’t sit in the stands for security reasons. He said: “If I don’t accept a gift of hospitality I can’t go to a game. You could say, ‘well bad luck’.

“That’s why gifts have to be registered. But you know never going to an Arsenal game again because I can’t accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.” On Monday his wife was pictured enjoying herself at London Fashion Week. Lady Starmer, who sported sunglasses, was seen smiling in the front row of the Edeline Lee show at the glitzy event in the capital.