Keir Starmer’s wife Victoria accepted dresses from Labour donor ‘because taxpayers won’t pay for them’, says David Lammy

LADY Victoria Starmer accepted dresses from a Labour bankroller because taxpayers won’t cough up for her clothes, David Lammy said yesterday.

The Foreign Secretary insisted the PM’s wife was right to be given pretty dresses by a millionaire donor because the couple needs to “look their best” for the public.

Sir Keir has been found to have breached Commons sleaze rules by failing to declare that Lord Waheed Alli, a Labour peer, paid for a personal shopper and outfits for Lady Victoria.

The millionaire has also given the PM £18,685 worth of work clothes and high-end glasses, which were declared in line with Commons rules.

Mr Lammy told the BBC: “The truth is that successive prime ministers, unless you’re a billionaire like the last one, do rely on donations, political donations, so they can look their best, both in the hope of representing the country, if you’re in the Opposition, or indeed as prime minister.”

Mr Lammy told the BBC that while the Starmer’s “are not broke”, other world leaders receive lavish outfit budgets that the PM can’t access.

The Foreign Secretary incorrectly claimed that in the US the President receives generous taxpayer funding for snazzy suits.

But while presidents do receive the equivalent of £38,100 in expenses allowance, there is no specific clothing budget.

Responding to the ordeal a Tory spokesperson said: “It’s taken just 10 weeks for Keir Starmer to face an investigation for his conduct.

“After facing allegations of cronyism and now apparent serious breaches of parliamentary rules there must be a full investigation into the passes for glasses scandal.

“No doubt the millions of vulnerable pensioners across the country who face choosing between heating and eating would jump at the chance for free clothes just to keep warm in the face of Labour’s cruel cut.”