British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repaid over £6,000 in gifts and hospitality received during his time in office, following weeks of criticism over the scale of his donations, The Associated Press reports.
Starmer, who has faced accusations of hypocrisy over the issue, defended his actions, saying it was “right” to repay the gifts while a review of donation rules is underway.
“We are now going to bring forward principles for donations, because, until now, politicians have used their best individual judgment on a case-by-case basis,” he said during a visit to Brussels. “I think we need some principles of general application.”
The donations, which totalled around £100,000 during the last parliamentary term, included clothes, eyeglasses, and tickets to Arsenal football matches, sparking public debate about the potential for undue influence. While the donations were legally declared, the controversy has damaged Starmer’s popularity ratings.
Among the items repaid are six Taylor Swift concert tickets at Wembley Stadium, four tickets to a horse racing event, and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by Starmer’s wife, Victoria.
In a bid to quell the controversy, which has also embroiled other senior members of his government, Starmer has committed to overhauling the rules governing ministerial hospitality to ensure greater transparency.
