‘The public expected us to be squeaky clean ... now they think we’re all the same’: how freebiegate rocked Labour
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Keir Starmer’s promise of a fresh break with Tory sleaze was dented by news he’d accepted clothing and concert tickets from a Labour donor. The Guardian’s political editor assesses the longer term damage. There is an old maxim in Westminster that scandals are not exposed, they are simply noticed. It applied to the expenses scandal that rocked public faith in the political system more than a decade ago, and to many since, from the Pestminster sexual misconduct scandal to Partygate.
![[Pippa Crerar]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/10/06/Pippa_Crerar_Next_Gen.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The same was true of the freebies row. And while there was no evidence in this instance that parliamentary rules had been broken, or that improper favours had been sought by those who offered the gifts, it created a huge political headache for Labour when it was noticed.
![[Waheed Alli at the Saatchi gallery, London, in 2023]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/acba2573e2e0a92b2e690f5e6afbeaefc19fe7e3/0_103_3261_1956/master/3261.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The headlines began in August, when Keir Starmer’s biggest personal donor, the Labour peer Waheed Alli – a businessman who had donated more than £100,000 to Labour for more than 20 years – was spotted in Downing Street with a temporary security pass.
![[A picture of Starmer and his wife at a Taylor Swift concert in London in June, which he shared on X]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4009b9dd5e67ad5cdecd1e61cef68b549791183b/0_0_1179_1600/master/1179.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The “passes for glasses” affair, so called because Alli had previously given Starmer clothes and £2,435 worth of eyewear – all declared – led to accusations of cronyism, since the peer had no formal role in No 10. It also prompted questions over who had authorised his pass.
Labour admitted that he had attended some meetings, but said that no civil servants had been present. “I don’t think it’s unusual for people to have passes to attend political meetings if they need to do so,” said Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister.
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