Angela Rayner freebie bombshell as she receives £3,550 in clothes from Lord Alli | Politics | News

Angela Rayner has admitted she received clothes from the millionaire donor at the heart of the Labour freebies row.

The Deputy Prime Minister declared £3,550 worth of clothing from Lord Waheed Alli in the latest register of interests.

Ms Rayner had previously registered it in July as a “donation in kind for undertaking parliamentary duties”.

But the senior Labour politician has admitted it was “work clothes for use while undertaking my duties”.

Lord Alli is facing questions over potential breaches of parliamentary rules about openness and accountability.

The inquiry was announced as it emerged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he has received in recent months, including the cost of tickets to Taylor Swift and the races as well as clothes for his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

The Prime Minister is overhauling hospitality rules for ministers following the backlash over freebies.

Millionaire TV mogul Lord Alli picked up the bill for the PM’s designer glasses, suits and, perhaps most baffling to most voters, dresses for Lady Starmer.

Lord Alli was briefly given a Downing Street pass and reportedly made recommendations for some public appointments.

He covered the cost of work clothing worth £12,000, accommodation valued at more than £20,000 and glasses valued at £2,485 for Sir Keir.

Labour’s manifesto, the Conservatives had fuelled a “widespread belief that many politicians are in it for themselves”.

Sir Keir promised a clean-up that ensures the “highest standards of integrity and honesty” with MPs that “focus on serving their constituents”.

But the PM was given the nickname “free gear Keir” after records showed he separately accepted nearly 40 sets of free tickets during his time as Labour leader, mainly to football matches.

In the wake of the controversy, the Prime Minister, Ms Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to no longer accept donations of clothing.

The Financial Times first reported that Ms Rayner received a £3,550 donation from Lord Alli, received on 15 June and registered on 29 July, adding that it was for clothing.

The Deputy PM has also defended staying in Lord Alli’s New York flat.

She was reported to have stayed in the Labour Peer’s property with Sam Tarry, who was then Labour MP for Ilford South, last December.

Ms Rayner told the BBC: “I don’t believe I broke any rules. I had the use of the apartment and I disclosed that I had the use of the apartment.

“In fact, I think I was overly transparent because I think it was important despite it being a personal holiday because that person, as a friend, had already donated to me in the past for my deputy leadership.”