Rachel Reeves has said she never planned to accept clothing donations once she became Chancellor, despite accepting a reported £7,500 for outfits from a friend while in opposition. Reeves is one of several senior Labour figures at the centre of a row after accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes as gifts before the election.
In an effort to draw a line under the controversy, Downing Street confirmed on Friday that Reeves, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner would no longer accept donations for clothing. Reeves told the BBC the donations “helped me in opposition” but were “never something I planned to do as a government minister.
The relationship between the Labour’s leadership and senior donors has come under scrutiny since after it emerged Sir Keir has received more than £16,000 for work clothing from Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli.
The Conservatives had asked the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg to investigate why gifts covering a personal shopper and clothing alterations for Sir Keir’s wife were not initially declared in the MPs’ register of interests.
It emerged in August Lord Alli had been given a temporary Downing Street security pass despite having no formal government role. The Financial Times also reported Reeves had received £7,500 for clothing from Labour donor Juliet Rosenfeld, paid over 17-months before July’s general election.
Source: BBC
In other news – Janet Jackson responds to controversial comments amid the 2024 election
Janet Jackson, a renowned actress, singer, songwriter, and dancer, recently apologized for the comments made about the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. According to People magazine, Janet released a statement, extending her apologies regarding her remarks and articulating that her comments about Harris were “based on misinformation.
The statement read, “She extends her sincerest apologies for any confusion caused and reaffirms her respect for Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian. Janet remains committed to fostering unity, inclusion, and understanding and is grateful for the opportunity to clarify her stance. Read more
