Keir Starmer accused of ‘hoodwinking voters’ as penthouse scandal sparks fiery row: ‘He’s not levelling with us!’

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “not levelling with the public” and “hoodwinking” voters, as the Labour leader has landed himself in hot water again over a fresh revelation involving prolific party donor Lord Waheed Alli.

The Prime Minister broadcast a message in December 2021 to urge the public to “stay home” during the coronavirus pandemic, which was filmed at Lord Alli’s multi-million pound penthouse.

Starmer also recorded his tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II at the same property. However, the Prime Minister’s press secretary has assured that no Covid rules had been broken by the use of the flat for the broadcast.

Discussing the revelations on GB News, former Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan hit out at the British premier, highlighting the “sheer hypocrisy” of Starmer’s recent donation scandal as well as using Lord Alli’s property on multiple occasions.

Donelan argued: “He made it look like his house, let’s not forget he was very disingenuous. He had pictures of his family up, Christmas cards, he gave the appearance that he was working from home, as he was telling people to do.

“He shouldn’t be in a position where he’s telling people to do something but not doing it himself. The bigger point here is the hypocrisy. This is an individual that went hard on the fact that he was Mr Rules, was straighter than straight, he would be a different type of politician – I don’t know how he felt it was justified to throw stones when he knew exactly what he was doing.”

Hitting back at Donelan, political commentator Jonathan Lis defended the Prime Minister, arguing that nothing Starmer did was “illegal” in choosing to film his message at the donor’s penthouse.

Lis told GB News: “Michelle, I saw in the register of your interest that you received sort of more than £10,000 in donations as well, while you were an MP, and that’s and that’s normal, that’s how things work. Provided it’s openly declared and there’s a transparency there.

“I think a balance needs to be struck here. You can either have a completely extreme position that no one should ever receive any kind of gift as a politician, or you can have something where they are free for all.”

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Donelan noted that her donation was for “leaflets and campaigning”, before shutting down Lis’s argument: “The point is the hypocrisy here – the fact that he presented himself as somebody is totally different.

“I’m not bothered about what he took or didn’t take, it is the fact that he almost hoodwinked the electorate into voting for something that didn’t really exist. I was never given any gifts, so I was obviously doing something wrong.”

When pressed by host Bev Turner on whether those who offer gifts and donations “expect something in return”, Donelan explained: “If you are a disciplined politician that is of good moral statute, you would just say thank you very much, and keep the relationship very professional.

“What’s happened here is quite different, because this individual [Lord Alli] was actually given a position within Number 10 and unlimited access.”

Weighing in on the debate, host Andrew Pierce argued: “Why did he create the deliberate impression he was broadcasting to the nation about the importance of working from home from a rich donor’s apartment?”

Lis interjected, claiming “this is not a story”, to which Andrew hit back: “It is! I guarantee you this is going to be a huge story, and it’s going to be a big problem for the Prime Minister because he’s not levelling with the public.”

Host Bev Turner then grilled Lis, asking: “What is it that Lord Alli wants?”

Lis responded: “Honestly, I’ve only met him once, I thought he was perfectly pleasant. I think that he just wanted Labour to get into power, because he wants a Labour Government.”