2024 Labour Party freebies controversy

This article is part of a series about Keir Starmer
Personal Early life and education Victoria Starmer (wife) Legal career Director of Public Prosecutions McLibel case Stephen Lawrence murder case Parliamentary expenses scandal Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal 2011 England riots Twitter joke trial Operation Yewtree Leadership of the Opposition Leadership election Shadow Cabinet Opposition frontbench May 2021 reshuffle November 2021 reshuffle 2023 reshuffle Antisemitism in the Labour Party Dossier Vote of confidence in the Boris Johnson ministry Beergate Election date betting scandal 2024 Labour manifesto Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Premiership Ministry 2024 State Opening of Parliament October 2024 budget International trips English Channel migrant crossings Border Security Command Cost-of-living crisis Industrial disputes postal workers strikes Great British Energy Freebies controversy Winter fuel payment abolition backlash Farmers' tax protests Plan for Change Oldham child sexual exploitation scandal Policies Political positions "New New Labour" Electoral history Elections 2021 local elections 2022 local elections 2023 local elections 2024 local elections 2024 general election endorsements 2025 local elections Next general election
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In September 2024, British prime minister Keir Starmer faced controversy after reports that he had failed to declare a gift of several thousands pounds worth of clothes to his wife Victoria Starmer by Labour Party donor Waheed Alli, Baron Alli. Subsequent debate arose over the number of gifts accepted by Starmer during his time as leader of the Labour Party, with Reuters reporting that he had accepted more gifts than any other MP since 2019.^[1]

In October 2024, it was reported that the London Metropolitan Police's Special Escort Group—a top-level security usually provided for members of the British royal family and heads of state—had been provided for Taylor Swift and crew for the London Eras Tour shows in August. A political scandal soon developed in the United Kingdom as the politicians of opposition Conservative Party accused the ruling Labour Party of receiving free tickets to the Eras Tour in exchange of the security grant. It was alleged that Labour politicians, ranging from Starmer to London mayor Sadiq Khan, had received around £20,000 in free tickets, after Swift's demand for the security was initially denied, with the politicians subsequently pressuring the police to give in.