How to find out what gifts and donations Keir Starmer has been given

James Harrison
Updated ·4 min read
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer (left) and wife Victoria Starmer enter the parade ring on day three of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday September 14, 2024. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Keir Starmer has faced questions over gifts to himself and his wife, Victoria. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images).

The world of gifts and donations to politicians has been thrust into the spotlight following recent revelations about Keir Starmer.

This year alone, the prime minister has received freebies worth thousands of pounds, covering everything from clothes and spectacles, to trips to the theatre and football matches.

Many of these have come from a single donor, Waheed Alli, a media baron and Labour member of the House of Lords, prompting questions about his influence over the new government - especially as questions remain unanswered over who gave Lord Alli a Downing Street pass.

The Labour leader has even been referred to the Parliamentary watchdog of over the gifts, which have reportedly also included designer outfits for his wife.

And on Wednesday, ITV News reported that Arsenal had gifted Starmer the use of a corporate box by Arsenal valued at "from £8,750 per game" - making it potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds each season.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has said it has no plans to investigate Starmer over the donations.

But what are the rules about what MPs can and cannot receive - and how can you find out if your MP has been treated to a free dinner or other gift?

Under the terms of the MPs' Code of Conduct, any "gifts, benefits or hospitality" worth more than £300 must be formally registered.

This also applies if the value of several gifts received over the course of a year exceeds £300.

For anything with a value of more than £500, MPs must also be sure they have come from a "permissible donor" who is properly registered in the UK.

When registering a donation, an MP must provide the name and address of the donor, the value of the donation and the dates on which the offer was accepted and received.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers his speech during the Salzburg's Summit of the Federation of Austrian Industries,
Boris Johnson faced an investigation while he was prime minister over claims of undeclared donations (Photo by BARBARA GINDL/APA/AFP via Getty Images).

The Electoral Commission suggests MPs should be sure of the source of a donation and whether it is being offered by a "permissible" individual or organisation before accepting, or risk prosecution.

The Ministerial Code also requires government ministers to refuse any gift or donation which "might, or might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgement".

Possible gifts can include:

  • Travel, including for overseas visits

  • Clothing and jewellery

  • Meals

  • Subscriptions, memberships and discount cards

  • Loans

MPs are required to declare donations on the parliamentary register of interests.

As well as gifts and donations, this should also detail any work they undertake outside their usual parliamentary duties. MPs must register any change to their registrable interests within 28 days.

Interests remain on the Register for twelve months after they have expired.

Click here to search for your local MP - Yahoo News has searched "Keir Starmer" as an example to highlight how to do it.

Then select 'Registered Interests' (marked in red) from the menu.

And that then gives you a list of the latest declared gifts and donations. The example below from Starmer's page and shows that Cain International UK Services Ltd, which is listed on Companies House as being involved in the "Development of building projects" donated two tickets to Starmer to watch the Chelsea vs Arsenal match valued at £2,400.

Since becoming leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir has accepted 40 sets of free tickets, mostly to football matches, but also to see Taylor Swift and Coldplay.

In the months before the general election, Lord Alli is also understood to have shelled out almost £2,500 for glasses and more than £16,000 for "work clothing".

According to an investigation by the Sunday Times, the Labour donor also covered the costs of a personal shopper haul for Starmer's wife, Victoria.

Jeremy Corbyn attends day 3 of the Glastonbury Festival 2017 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 24, 2017 in Glastonbury, England.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accepted tickets to the Glastonbury music festival.

Starmer's predecessor as Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, received tickets to the Glastonbury music festival worth about £450 two years in a row, but otherwise largely eschewed freebies during his time as leader of the opposition.

While prime minister, Boris Johnson declared a £15,000 holiday paid for by a Conservative Party donor, but avoided declaring a holiday from former MP Zac Goldsmith by arguing it was provided in a personal capacity.

Johnson was also investigated over claims a refurbishment of Downing Street carried out during his premiership was partly paid for with undeclared donations.

Yes. Members of the House of Lords, MPs' staff and researchers and members of the Parliamentary 'Lobby' of officially sanctioned journalist all have to provide a register of interests.

Local authority councillors are also required to declare gifts and income in a similar manner to MPs.

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