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Starmer uses son’s exams as excuse for freebies

Keir Starmer on stage at Labour conference (Getty Images)

Labour’s freebie fiasco isn’t going away. Sir Keir Starmer has prompted more headlines by suggesting he took thousands of pounds of donations from millionaire donor Lord Alli because of, um, his son. Excuses, excuses…

The Prime Minister was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about the ongoing frockgate scandal when he claimed that he had accepted £20,000 in donations for accommodation – including a the use of an £18 million Covent Garden penthouse – from the Labour peer to avoid disrupting his son’s study sessions. In an emotive plea to the broadcaster about the matter, the Labour leader insisted:

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. We have lots of journalists outside our house where we live and I’m not complaining about that, that’s fine.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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