Starmer: It is important to look at the ‘human story’ behind a donation
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that it is “important” to look at a “human story” behind a donation as he defended the use of accommodation for his son to study for his GCSEs during the general election campaign.
Following the reporting of the donation, Sir Keir told Sky News that he was not going to “let my son fail or not do well” in his exams while journalists were outside the family home in north London.
He had previously told LBC that he was “not going to apologise for not doing anything wrong” as he defended his decision to take the gift.
‘Study’
Speaking to Sky News from New York City, where he is attending the UN General Assembly, Sir Keir said that the election had been called “not when we expected it”.
“My son happened to be in the middle of his GCSEs,” he added.
“That means there are a lot of journalists outside the front door and in the street.”
He said he is “not complaining”, but “if you’re 13, as my girl is, if you’re 16 as my boy is, that’s quite hard to navigate when you’re concentrating on GCSEs,” he said.
Sir Keir explained: “I said, ‘we’re going to get you out of here and get you somewhere where you can just study and get to school and back without having to go through all of that’.
“And that’s when someone says, well, in which case I can make this flat available to you.
“It’s safe, secure, he can get on.”
‘Human story’
The Prime Minister later went on: “I do think sometimes it’s important just to look behind the number and say, ‘what was the human story behind’”.
“I wasn’t going to let my son fail or not do well in his GCSEs because of journalists outside,” he added.
Sir Keir was also asked about donations in a series of interviews following his speech to the Labour Party annual conference that were broadcast on Wednesday morning.
He said that about £20,000 he had declared from Lord Alli for unspecified accommodation was for his teenager to study for exams in a “peaceful” atmosphere.
“My boy, 16, was in the middle of his GCSEs. I made him a promise, a promise that he would be able to get to his school, do his exams, without being disturbed,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“We have lots of journalists outside our house where we live and I’m not complaining about that, that’s fine.
“But if you’re a 16-year-old trying to do your GCSEs and it’s your one chance in life – I promised him we would move somewhere, get out of the house and go somewhere where he could be peacefully studying.
“Somebody then offered me accommodation where we could do that. I took that up and it was the right thing to do.”
Asked whether he would like to apologise for the row, he told LBC: “I’m not going to apologise for not doing anything wrong.”
Row
The row over declarations by MPs and senior ministers had threatened to overshadow the Labour conference, with criticism aimed at both the PM and his ministers for accepting luxury gifts from wealthy donors while announcing cuts to the winter fuel allowance.
Sir Keir has said ministers will no longer take donations for clothing now they are in Government, but left the door open to receiving more access to events, such as the £4,000 worth of tickets to a Taylor Swift concert he accepted from the Premier League.
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£5000 a week for a flat!
I trust he got really good grades.
Quick to chuck his son under the bus to cover his blatant Self-service of freebies along with numerous ministers, the latest the environment minister, wined and dined at football matches by owners of a Water company.
Just watching the party broadcast ably supported by the baroness talking about service, the gall of the man, then laying claim to Wales resources for UK use.
Honestly, Homo Superior or what. Who wouldn’t feel for the youngsters but my memory goes back to Covid lock-down and hundreds of thousands of common or garden kids being put through the mill and their parents. The trauma of losing grandparents etc I don’t believe the world Clark of Kent lives in experienced much of that…Sorry mate, but we are all in this together my derriere…
You mention COVID lockdown well it has come to light Starmer made some COVID broadcasts from Lord Alis flat, the one asking people to stay at home on the day it kicked in.
Starmer fast becoming the epitome of the stereotypical politician. I’m unsurprised and especially not over this latest with the Covid broadcasts being filmed in Lord Ali’s flat. “Stay at home” everyone and do your bit while I’m choosing to be in someone else’s flat, filming something I could have done from home. What became known as the “Beergate” incident was a good indicator of what Starmer is about. He and his chums were pushing for restrictions, particularly the social distancing ones, and arguing against any suggestions of easing them, urging the rest of us to follow the rules etc. However,… Read more »
“Beergate”What rules were broken at the time? Usual suspect press got a video from a dubious source and tried to frame him for something he hadn’t done.
Police investigated. Nothing to see. Police had to be prodded into No10 and then 120 FPN issued, the seat of the UK government, and Johnson lied to the nation over it (should have been more FPN).
The flat thing, lets see how it plays out but suspect it is not the gotcha people think.
The words how the other half live spring to mind. Lord Ali’s name seems to be springing up a bit too regularly too. One wonders what exactly is the relationship between Starmer and he. I suspect the Starmers have other family or close friends, who don’t happen to be donating to the Labour Party or Starmer personally, that the son could have gone to stay with. This is yet another example of an entirely avoidable situation. If Starmer had anything nearing decent political nous, he’d have realised the optics of this wouldn’t reflect well. You’re right to point out what… Read more »
He should chat with his mate Gething about donations, and I have done nothing wrong statements, it all sounds very familiar.
I bet VG wishes he’d thought of this excuse though.
Very true, he should have reserved the blaming it on his son excuse and kept it for a later day. As I’m sure you’ll remember VG had already blamed the son once when getting into a bit of bother. That was the excuse given for why he was staying outside for a prolonged period away from home, sat on a bench scoffing chips.