Sir Keir Starmer has been slapped down by one of Labour’s most senior figures and told to stop trying to “justify” freebies. Baroness Harriet Harman told the Prime Minister “doubling down” is angering and alienating voters. Sir Keir has denied being “king of the freebies” amid a deepening political crisis over gifts.

Keir Starmer should be walking into his first Labour conference as UK prime minister this weekend against a backdrop of party unity after delivering one of the biggest Tory defeats in election history.

The Prime Minister has received more gifts and freebies than any other MP since he became Labour leader, it’s been revealed. A Sky News investigation found Sir Keir Starmer received two-and-a-half times more gifts and hospitality than the MP in second place, according to their research which tracks how money flows through the UK political system.

The Prime Minister faced a gruelling series of local TV interviews amid a fierce row over his acceptance of more than £100,000 of gifts since the 2019 general election.

Keir Starmer has “no political input” in the pay of his advisers, a Labour Cabinet minister has said. It comes as the Prime Minister's chief of staff Sue Gray was criticised for having a higher salary than him.