Keir Starmer issued a renewed defence of Lord Alli’s donations today (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer issued a renewed defence of Lord Alli’s donations today, while admitting he does understand why the public and media continue to question his links to the Prime Minister and Labour Party.
Sir Keir used the top donor’s £18 million Covent Garden penthouse to urge the public to work from home during the pandemic.
In December 2021 he used the flat for an address to the nation following new Government guidance to fight the pandemic.
Christmas cards and a photo of his family had been added to the backdrop, suggesting he had attempted to pass the flat off as his own domicile.
While Downing Street has already said they are confident no rules have been broken, the story sparked further outrage.
Asked today why he had put a photo of his family in the backdrop of Lord Alli’s flat, Sir Keir flippantly said: “That was just part of a video we were putting out in relation to, I think it was during .”
He joked: “Anybody who thinks that I was pretending it was my own home, the idea that I’ve got union jacks by my fireplace at home and or that I would invite a bunch of you lot into my living room to have a look around.
“I mean, I think the idea that I was trying to pretend that it was my home is pretty farcical.
“And no I’m not going to be inviting you in to film me in front of my fireplace. I’m very sorry, that’s about the last thing I’d do.”
However he did concede that he understands why people have questions about Lord Alli, and his role within Labour.
He said: “I understand why the public have questions about this. I think the best thing we can do is to explain the circumstances and be absolutely clear that nothing wrong has been done here.”
“Everybody has complied with all of the rules. Sometimes it takes time to go through the individual examples, which may or may not put the context for people to see and make their own judgments.
Sir Keir used the top donor’s £18 million Covent Garden penthouse (Image: Getty)
“But look, I know why you’re asking questions.”
Probed about what Lord Alli’s role in Downing Street and his party actually is, and whether he ever discusses policy with the donor, Sir Keir denied any such role.
The PM said Lord Alli is just a Labour peer who wanted a Labour victory.
He added: “That was his sole motivation. The fact that he is already a Labour lord takes away any sense that there’s a reward for him. He wanted a Labour victory that motivated him, and he got one.”