The investigation began last week and is related to allegations of late declaration of profits and gifts, benefits or hospitality from British sources. Starmer insisted Monday morning that he was confident he had not violated the MPs’ code of conduct, saying: “There is no problem here.” During a campaign visit to Wakefield ahead of the June 23 election, the Labor leader told television stations that the allegations were not surprising, adding: “My office is dealing with it and will respond in due course.” Asked if he was sure he had done nothing wrong, he insisted: “Absolutely sure. There is no problem here. “ A spokesman for Starmer said he “apologized for the administrative errors in his office leading to a small number of late statements” and would provide further information to Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone. Stone provided very limited details about the lawmakers under investigation, of whom there are currently three: Starmer, Home Secretary Chris Philip and Conservative supporter Andrew Bridgen. Starmer’s belated statements were considered to be about hospitality, including football tickets and book payments. It was revealed last month that Starmer was writing a book about Britain under Labor – inspired by notes he began writing during the lockdown. An advance of 18 18,000 was paid by publisher HarperCollins, which he pledged to donate to charity. The most recent register of MPs’ interests shows that several entries were recently added by Starmer: the book fee for one to five hours a week from March 2020 was received in April and tickets for two football matches worth more than λι 2,000 received in March and April. Stone often does not support allegations against MPs – dismissing 10 of those referred to her for questioning at the last parliamentary session. Labor sources downplayed any suggestion that Starmer wanted to hide the payments and hospitality he received. Some suspected the allegation was made to put Starmer in a difficult position at a time when his leadership is already under pressure from police to investigate alleged beer drinking with colleagues in violation of Covid rules. Starmer’s allies have labeled him “Mr Rules” in recent months in a bid to contrast his history as a former lawyer who was repeatedly isolated during the pandemic when he and his family tested positive for Covid and Boris Johnson. Contrast was used to portray Starmer as a diligent follower of the rules and Johnson as a serial offender, as the prime minister’s repeated denials that he did not party on Downing Street during the lockdown have proved untrue.
