During a heated discussion on BBC’s Question Time, an audience member made a striking comparison between Keir Starmer’s recent controversy over freebies and Boris Johnson’s infamous “wallpapergate” scandal.
The debate followed revelations that Starmer, the current Prime Minister, has accepted over £100,000 worth of gifts since 2019. These included high-profile perks such as tickets to see Taylor Swift, seats in a corporate box at Arsenal matches, and expensive clothing, making him the MP who has accepted the most freebies by a considerable margin.
The revelation has ignited widespread criticism, particularly as the government continues to issue warnings about the UK’s economic struggles while restricting winter fuel payments for pensioners. Critics argue that the optics of Starmer enjoying luxurious gifts while the public faces financial hardship are damaging.
However, there were those in the Question Time audience who came to Starmer’s defence. One audience member made a direct comparison to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s scandal over the costly renovation of his Downing Street flat, which was initially funded by a Tory donor.
“In terms of gifts, corruption and potential bribery aside, it’s quite refreshing to hear politicians being gifted things rather than charging them on public expenses,” she said. “I’d much rather hear that Keir Starmer accepted box tickets from a club that he already has a season ticket for than Boris Johnson’s £2,260 gold wallpaper.”
This comparison highlighted the ongoing shadow of Johnson’s “wallpapergate,” where reports from 2022 revealed that the renovation of his Downing Street flat cost £200,000, a portion of which included expensive wallpaper. Though Johnson eventually reimbursed the Tory donor who initially funded the renovation, the incident left a lasting impression on the public.
Another Question Time audience member addressed the broader issue of gifts to politicians, suggesting that while conflating gifts with corruption might be “far-fetched,” there should still be scrutiny over the monetary value of such perks. “The limit of the value of those gifts needs to be looked at,” he said.
Commons leader Lucy Powell, who was also on the panel, weighed in on the matter, emphasising that transparency is key. She explained how, in her role as leader of the House of Commons, she has worked to tighten the rules around MPs’ outside earnings to ensure higher standards of transparency.
“We are determined to raise those standards, raise that transparency, and really eliminate any idea that there is a conflict of interest,” Powell said. She assured the audience that steps were being taken to prevent any conflicts of interest and ensure that MPs are held accountable.
You can watch the video below:
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