A Dwelling Workplace minister has dismissed worries across the variety of presents the prime minister has accepted over the past 5 years.
Keir Starmer is in scorching water this week after it emerged he has accepted greater than £100,000 in freebies since 2019 – greater than another MP has declared – together with seats in a company field to an Arsenal recreation.
However, talking to broadcasters on Friday morning, minister Jess Phillips claimed she hasn’t “had a single electronic mail about” the problem.
Sky Information presenter Anna Jones requested her: “Are you glad along with his rationalization for why it’s been needed?”
Phillips mentioned she was, and that Keir Starmer is “doing job”.
So Jones hit again: “You simply don’t assume it’s vital in any respect?”
“It’s not that I don’t assume it’s vital in any respect!” Phillips spoke over Jones. “It’s a must to contemplate how individuals within the nation really feel about issues.
“I’ve to say no one has talked about it to me and I haven’t had a single electronic mail about it.
“I’ve had a lot of emails about individuals not having the ability to get on a housing listing, so I’d actually actually a lot fairly deal with that and for Keir Starmer to deal with getting house-building going.”
“So that you’re not involved about the way it appears to be like when the federal government is having to introduce a coverage the place they scrap winter gasoline allowance for tens of millions of pensioners and he’s obtained freebies and a company field at Arsenal?” Jones requested.
The federal government selected to limit winter gasoline funds earlier this month so solely these on pension credit score have been entitled to it.
Ministers claimed it was essential to comply with by means of with the unpopular transfer as a result of the Tories had left a ”£22bn black gap” within the authorities funds.
The Labour MP replied: “I at all times fear about how every thing appears to be like [but] these two issues are fully separate issues.
“Had he by no means been to observe the Arsenal, there would nonetheless be a £22bn black gap that needed to be paid for.
“After all I fear about how issues look and I would like individuals to really feel like the federal government is having to make some very very troublesome choices, however basically is working to make issues higher.”
Phillips additionally performed down experiences that Starmer’s chief of workers Sue Grey is receiving a bigger wage than the PM himself throughout her morning media spherical.
She mentioned there’s an “obsession” with Grey within the media proper now, however claimed she was an “wonderful advocate” for tackling violence towards ladies and ladies.
“I actually really feel like No.10 has a grip over me and a grip over what they’re meant to be doing, which is making an attempt to control the nation,” she instructed Radio 5 Stay Breakfast.
