THE Scottish National Party has accused an “out of touch” Labour of imposing an “austerity for thee and not me” as Cabinet ministers enjoy £800,000 in donations, hospitality and freebies this year while cutting public spending.
As Labour members descend upon Liverpool for the party’s first conference in power in 15 years, ministers are being rocked by allegations of cronyism as rich donors and corporations have not only paid for a new wardrobe for the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, but given substantial freebies to his cabinet colleagues.
Data from the MPs’ register of interests show Labour Cabinet ministers enjoyed £753,017 in donations and £90,853 in gifts since the beginning of the year.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had enjoyed more than £2,230 from a clothing firm, while Labour life peer Lord Waheed Alli gave her the use of a luxury New York apartment earlier this year.
He also donated £14,000 to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for her 40th birthday bash.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy too was popular with donors, raking-in more than £150,000 in gifts and donations this year, including a £10,000 donation from a Saudi-supporting PR executive.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting meanwhile landed £1,160 Taylor Swift tickets, part of a total of £117,000 in donations and gifts he has received this year alone.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed and Cabinet minister colleague Pat McFadden both enjoyed tickets to see Kylie Minogue and Bruce Springsteen respectively.
SNP Westminster leader Stehen Flynn branded it “shockingly bad judgement” to accept the donations.
He said: “The Labour Party has only been in office for three months but it is already plummeting in the polls as a result of breaking so many promises to voters.”
His SNP colleague Kirsty Blackman questioned what lobbyists were expecting in exchange for the gifts.
She said: “People are understandably angry that Sir Keir Starmer and Labour Party ministers have been throwing birthday parties and lining their pockets with around £800,000 of luxury freebies and donations, while ordinary families are facing the pain of damaging Labour government austerity cuts.
“It makes them look completely out of touch and shows it’s one rule for them and another for the rest of us — austerity for thee but not for me.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “On July 4, Scotland voted for change — to get away from the chaos of a Tory government that had crashed the economy and become mired in sleaze and an SNP government that was failing on public services and focused on the wrong priorities.
“The process will not be easy.”
