Keir Starmer under investigation by MPs sleaze watchdog over late declarations of earnings and gifts

June 13, 2022

Keir Starmer under investigation by MPs sleaze watchdog over late declarations of earnings and gifts

Keir Starmer is under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The MPs' sleaze watchdog said Starmer's declarations of earnings and gifts was being probed.
Several of Starmer's entries exceed the 28-day requirement for declaration.

Keir Starmer is under investigation by the Commons' Standards Commissioner for alleged breaches of rules for MPs on declaring outside income and gifts.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards added the Labour leader to the list of MPs under investigation, noting the case had been opened last Wednesday, June 8.

Starmer told broadcasters Monday morning that he was "absolutely confident, there's no problem here."

A spokesperson told Insider: "Keir Starmer takes his declaration responsibilities very seriously and has already apologised for the fact that administrative errors in his office have led to a small number of late declarations.

"The Standards Commissioner has asked for more information which we are happy to provide."

A Labour source said Starmer's office had apologised for the fact that there were some late declarations.

Starmer's register of interests contains a number of entries that appear to breach the requirement to declare outside earnings and gifts within 28 days of receipt. Starmer has two entries for outside earnings beyond the 28 day period.

On November 15 2021, Starmer declared he had received £135.78 in book royalties on September 29, 2021.
On May 13, 2022, Starmer declared he had reeceived £317.23 in book royalties on March 23, 2022.

Starmer also has four entries for gifts and hospitality declared more than 28 days after it was received.

On December 23, 2021, Starmer declared he had received a hospitality ticket worth £192 on July 8, 2021.
On December 23, 2021, Starmer declared he had received a ticket for the British Kebab Awards, an event popular with MPs and others who work in Westminster, worth £522 on October 29, 2021.
On May 5, 2022, Starmer declared he had received hospitality for two people from Crystal Palace FC, worth £720, on April 4, 2022.
On May 6, 2022, Starmer declared he had received tickets for four people from Watford FC, worth £1416, on April 4, 2022.

The total value of the six late entries is £3,303.01.

Analysis by Insider suggests Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy could also face an investigation into late declaration of earnings.

His most recent entry in the register of interests shows he received £20,910 for eight speeches in early December 2021, but only declared them more than six months later at the end of May.

Lammy's speeches were for corporate clients, paid through speakers' agencies, for companies including EY, Deloitte, and the Canary Wharf Group.

The sleaze investigation comes as Starmer faces a separate probe from Durham Constabulary over allegations of attending a lockdown-breaching event in May 2021, known as beergate.

Lammy's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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