Starmer repays more than £6k in gifts since becoming PM

Sir Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts received since becoming prime minister, following a backlash over donations.

The prime minister is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

It comes after Sir Keir and other cabinet ministers have faced weeks of criticism for accepting freebies from wealthy donors.

Sir Keir has committed to tightening the rules around ministerial hospitality to improve transparency.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The prime minister has commissioned a new set of principles on gifts and hospitality to be published as part of the updated ministerial code.

"Ahead of the publication of the new code, the prime minister has paid for several entries on his own register.

"This will appear in the next register of members' interests."