The Prime Minister received a furious backlash on GB News today, after he seemed to make light of the controversy surrounding his use of a Labour donors £18million penthouse at a UN speech yesterday.
Keir Starmer quipped about the UK consul general’s residence, saying: “I’d like to pretend this is my apartment to welcome you to.”
Tom Slater, editor of Spike, told GB News that the joke “adds to the sense that the Labour Party aren’t listening”.
Emily Carver asked the editor: “It’s interesting, isn’t it? Is it a laughing matter?”
Tom Slater blasted the PM for the joke
GB News
Spike responded: “I think if Keir Starmer was a more gifted joke deliverer, maybe he would have gotten away with it.
“I think it just adds to the sense that the Labour Party aren’t listening. And also I think the issue is less the hypocrisy, it’s more the sense of entitlement that has crept in.
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“It’s almost like, how dare you challenge us? You’ve got to remember, we’re not the Tories.
“We’re not those horrible people we are the good people and therefore whatever freebies and bonuses come with the job we deserve them, whereas those other lot don’t.
“I think that’s the thing that now that we’ve seen with this joke and with the various interviews that he’s given, he doesn’t seem to get why people are upset.
“I dare say jokes like this will add to that.”
Keir Starmer made the joke in his United Nations speech yesterday
PA
Tom Harwood responded: “It is stark as well, given that he completely ignored the issue in his conference speech only a couple of days ago, didn’t mention it at all, to the surprise of some people.
“And now he’s joking about it with a lot of bankers in New York City.”
The controversy stems from Starmer’s use of Lord Alli’s £18m penthouse in Covent Garden to film a Covid-era broadcast in December 2021.
In the video, Starmer urged the public to work from home whilst appearing to be in his own residence.
The controversy stems from Starmer’s use of Lord Alli’s £18m penthouse
PA
A Downing Street source clarified that Starmer did not stay overnight at the property, only using it for a few hours.
The source explained that the use was not declared because it did not meet the minimum £300 threshold for declaration.
Starmer has defended his actions, telling reporters in New York: “Anybody who thinks that I was pretending it was my own home, the idea that I’ve got union jacks by my fireplace at home or that I would invite a bunch of you lot into my living room to have a look around.
“I mean, I think the idea that I was trying to pretend that it was my home is pretty farcical.”