Tory MP Gregory Stafford took the opportunity at PMQs to ask Starmer about some of his distinguished ministers and former ministers:
“First of all we had a Chancellor who embellished her CV then we had a Transport Secretary with a fraud conviction and now we’ve got an anti-corruption minister who’s being investigated for corruption. Now I know the Prime Minister likes living in free accommodation, but does he really think it’s appropriate that his minister has been given free housing by the political allies of some very dubious foreign regimes?”
Starmer was tight-lipped in his responnse, saying “the City minister has acted appropriately by referring herself to the independent adviser, we brought in our new ministerial code to allow ministers to ask to establish the facts and I’m not going to give a running commentary on that important exercise.” ‘I’m not saying nuffin’…
As Guido pointed out this morning Laurie Magnus’ investigation will be extremely limited in scope. Siddiq will keep happily working on anti-money laundering and illicit finance in her brief in the meantime…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”