Lord Alli paid hundreds for Education Secretary’s fortieth party
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson accepted thousands of pounds from a controversial Labour donor to bankroll her 40th birthday party, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
More than 100 guests, including Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, attended the glittering event that millionaire TV mogul Lord Alli funded in London last year.
The revelation comes as the Government is mired in sleaze allegations, with Labour frontbenchers handed a string of expensive freebies from donors, including clothes, football tickets and holiday accommodation.
Lord Alli, 59, has handed £314,147 to senior party figures in a series of donations spanning almost two decades, including more than £16,000 for the Prime Minister’s suits and glasses.
Ms Phillipson last year declared two donations from the Labour peer totalling £14,000, which she said was ‘to host a number of events, including on behalf of the Shadow Education team’.
Bridget Phillipson (pictured) accepted thousands of pounds from a Labour donor to bankroll her 40th birthday party in Westminster’s Hoare Memorial Hall
Ms Phillipson last year declared two donations from the Lord Alli (pictured) totalling £14,000, which she said was ‘to host a number of events’
But the MoS has learnt that some of that money was used to pay for her 40th birthday party last December, in the historic Hoare Memorial Hall in Westminster.
This newspaper understands that the Prime Minister took to the venue’s stage during the three-and-a-half-hour party and made a speech in which he hailed Ms Phillipson as ‘a poster child for working-class aspiration’.
Guests, who were served wine and canapes, included Labour frontbenchers Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband, Steve Kyle and Steve Reed, now the Secretaries of State for Health, Energy, Science and the Environment respectively.
Morgan McSweeney, the mastermind behind Labour’s election victory this summer, also attended, along with former Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson and a number of political journalists.
Ms Phillipson, who has been an MP since 2010, received a £10,000 donation from Lord Alli on November 13 and another £4,000 donation from the peer on December 11. Her birthday party was the following day.
This weekend Ms Phillipson was accused of failing to clearly declare what was paid for by Lord Alli, the entrepreneur who spearheaded Labour’s fundraising during the election and was later given a temporary Downing Street pass.
Former No 10 adviser Henry Newman said: ‘Donors have a legitimate role but Labour’s leadership seems freebie-addicted.
‘The Education Secretary’s failure to declare clearly what a donor paid for will add to questions about Ministers’ judgment, especially since Lord Alli was handed a Downing Street pass.’
This newspaper understands that the Prime Minister (right) took to the venue’s stage during the three-and-a-half-hour party and made a speech in which he hailed Ms Phillipson (left) as ‘a poster child for working-class aspiration’
Both Ed Miliband (left) and Wes Streeting (right) were in attendance at the birthday party where guests were served canapes and wine
Morgan McSweeney, the mastermind behind Labour’s election victory this summer, also attended the birthday bash
Michael Gove (right) walks with Henry Newman (left). The former No 10 adviser slammed Labour’s leadership as ‘freebie-addicted’
Mr Newman, who now runs the Whitehall Project blog on the Substack website, added: ‘The Prime Minister, his deputy and Chancellor promised no more free clothes – but would a senior Minister have another birthday bash paid for by Lord Alli?’
Tory MP Andrew Griffith said: ‘Yet again, the declarations of a top Labour Minister have failed to meet the transparency test that the public have a right to know.
‘Voters will rightly wonder why senior Labour MPs cannot pay for their own lavish birthday parties.
‘But more importantly, Ministers should be completely honest in disclosing to Parliament the donations they received from Lord Alli and for what reason.’
It is unclear exactly how much Ms Phillipson’s birthday party cost, although the MoS understands that to hire the memorial hall for a night last December would have been £3,630.
The venue is part of Church House, the headquarters of the Church of England, and boasts elegant oak-panelling and stunning art deco chandeliers.
It was used as a substitute for the House of Commons Chamber during the Second World War when the Blitz forced MPs to evacuate Parliament.
Tory MP Andrew Griffith (pictured) said Phillipson’s declarations ‘failed to meet the transparency test that the public have a right to know’
Labour MPs pose with Keir Starmer (centre front) at Church House in Westminster – the venue of Ms Phillipson’s 40th birthday party
Lord Alli’s donations also paid for a Westminster drinks reception hosted by Ms Phillipson in February.
The event was for Labour frontbenchers to meet Westminster journalists.
Labour sources said Lord Alli’s donations were declared on the Register of Members’ Interests in the usual way.
Ms Phillipson declined to comment.
