Deputy PM Angela Rayner WON’T need to cough up DJ cash for Ibiza holiday as Starmer says Cabinet can keep freebies
ANGELA Rayner will not have to cough up for her Ibiza DJ jolly worth £836, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister told The Sun he does not expect Cabinet Ministers to follow his lead and repay their post-election freebies.
It comes after he personally covered more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality in a bid to shake off a growing scandal over donations.
But the PM said it was his “personal decision” and that he is not “saying others should do the same”.
Speaking during a visit in Merseyside, he said: “We are going to draw up some principles so that everyone can see the basis on which donations et cetera are being accepted.
“We are working on that. Until they are drawn up I decided to repay so that any future activities, of me or anybody else, are in accordance with whatever the new principles are.
“That is my personal decision, I am not saying others should do the same.”
The PM also refused to say if paying back the gifts was admission he had something wrong.
Yesterday, The Sun revealed the Cabinet have taken more than £11,000 in freebies since being appointed in July.
The Deputy PM declared she was given “hospitality – visit to DJ booth, Hi Ibiza, value £836” on August 28.
The donor is listed as Ayita LCC, the management company for Australian house and techno DJ Fisher, whose booth Ms Rayner was pictured raving in.
Other members of the Cabinet to accept summer outings include Treasury Minister Darren Jones who took four Taylor Swift tickets worth £3,400 and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson who took two Wimbledon tickets worth £1,060.
The Sun also exposed how a Labour Party commercial team had offered company chiefs a chance to “gain insight” with the Business Secretary in exchange for £30,000.
Jonathan Reynolds said he was unaware of the meeting and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband today urged Labour ‘”don’t do it again”.
Political parties often organise events alongside business leaders, including the Conservatives, who held a business day at their party conference this week.
Mr Miliband told ITV‘s Good Morning Britain ministers were not interested in having businesses pay for access to them.
He said: “The answer is – whether it is me or Jonathan Reynolds – it is not about paying to have access. That is not what we are about, no,”
No 10 is planning to publish a new code of conduct for ministers, possibly within days, which will tighten the rules on accepting donations.