Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield quits Labour

[Unlucky4Sum]

So why would buy something for someone who can very easily afford it, unless it's to pay for something he can't buy, like access to Downing St.

Already answered

[Nick]

Of course he would because he knows the optics of accepting that money are not good.

And Ali is worth ~ £200 million with an income in the £hundreds of thousands.  The amounts were chicken feed for him.

So why would buy something for someone who can very easily afford it, unless it's to pay for something he can't buy, like access to Downing St. 

[Unlucky4Sum]

Absolute nonsense, Beer Kormer is worth about £8 million, you just said that amount of money is peanuts to them, are you saying he can't afford his own glasses and suits?

And now he ha paid it back, he wouldn't do that if he thought it was not crooked.

Of course he would because he knows the optics of accepting that money are not good.

And Ali is worth ~ £200 million with an income in the £hundreds of thousands.  The amounts were chicken feed for him.

[Nick]

I'm glad Starmer has paid it back.

He has only paid a fraction back.

[Borg Refinery]

I'm glad Starmer has paid it back.

[Nick]

We all make mistakes and are imperfect humans, all of us have sleazy moments, we shouldn't be judged for it. Nor should any other politician who was given a gift.

I don't think it's bluster to say the rules should be changed, but it isn't fair to condemn all politicians incl Starmer

These are the same people that slated Boris for having his wallpaper paid for, something he didn't take with him.

[Borg Refinery]

It's really excellent when you can see the good in people rather than focussing on their weaknesses. I'm not saying it's right, but it sure adds a new perspective to overlooking sleaze.

We all make mistakes and are imperfect humans, all of us have sleazy moments, we shouldn't be judged for it. Nor should any other politician who was given a gift.

I don't think it's bluster to say the rules should be changed, but it isn't fair to condemn all politicians incl Starmer

[Nick]

Well to someone with multi millions 'that much money' is likely less significant than Mr or Ms average giving an Amazon voucher.

As it happens I beleive the donation was to help Starmer succeed.

Absolute nonsense, Beer Kormer is worth about £8 million, you just said that amount of money is peanuts to them, are you saying he can't afford his own glasses and suits?

Starmer pays back thousands of pounds worth of gifts - including Taylor Swift tickets

Sir Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality received since taking office, Downing Street has said.

Source: Starmer pays back thousands of pounds worth of gifts - including Taylor Swift tickets

And now he ha paid it back, he wouldn't do that if he thought it was not crooked.

[Unlucky4Sum]

Nobody spends that kind of money on a comparative stranger without a reason.

Well to someone with multi millions 'that much money' is likely less significant than Mr or Ms average giving an Amazon voucher.

As it happens I beleive the donation was to help Starmer succeed.

[Nick]

His position in this thread and others is apparently that any gift to anyone is always a bribe.

Which is just plain untrue.  As previously explained people often give gifts because they want to see those they like happy and because they want to see those that represent their views succeed.

Nobody spends that kind of money on a comparative stranger without a reason.

[Unlucky4Sum]

He isn't trying to bluster, he has fair and legitimate points in this and many discussions and believes in high standards for public office, that's all.

The practice should be reformed but Starmer should not be condemned for it, he's a man with integrity and trying his best as PM

His position in this thread and others is apparently that any gift to anyone is always a bribe.

Which is just plain untrue.  As previously explained people often give gifts because they want to see those they like happy and because they want to see those that represent their views succeed.

[Barry]

No one is perfect. He is trying to reform Westminster and should be backed in doing so

Just like Tories should be backed when they try to make the country better again

He didn't engage in bribery, all it was was the same thing politicians have done for ages, accepting gifts. We are all hypocrites sometimes, all of us, no one should be condemned for that

No one should be condemned for being imperfect

It's really excellent when you can see the good in people rather than focussing on their weaknesses. I'm not saying it's right, but it sure adds a new perspective to overlooking sleaze.

[Streetwalker]

No one is perfect. He is trying to reform Westminster and should be backed in doing so

Just like Tories should be backed when they try to make the country better again

He didn't engage in bribery, all it was was the same thing politicians have done for ages, accepting gifts. We are all hypocrites sometimes, all of us, no one should be condemned for that

No one should be condemned for being imperfect

As far as I'm concerned the less reforming (aka going down the socialist rabbit hole) he does the better . A labour government is  like when you leave the kids home alone for me , don't answer the door to anyone and don't touch anything . You just hope your house hasn't been robbed and nothings broken when you get home .

[Borg Refinery]

No one is perfect. He is trying to reform Westminster and should be backed in doing so

Just like Tories should be backed when they try to make the country better again

He didn't engage in bribery, all it was was the same thing politicians have done for ages, accepting gifts. We are all hypocrites sometimes, all of us, no one should be condemned for that

No one should be condemned for being imperfect

[Streetwalker]

Nope, he is trying the best he can and is a man of integrity, wants the country to do and be better, he just has a different way of doing it

Most politicians have taken gifts for a long time, it's a seemingly normal and accepted practice. I'm not condemning Farage for taking gifts either, he's doing what they've all done and is also a man of integrity

I will not condemn. I just want the practice changed.

The point being that Starmer said he would be the person that changed it ,was the person that made such a song and dance about Tory sleaze .Was the man that put himself on the moral high ground above all that had come before him when the truth is he is as bad if not worse than all of them .