Keir Starmer violates parliamentary rules and fails to declare gifts from party donor Lord Alli to his wife

The Conservative Party said the revelations, first reported by the Sunday Times, warranted a “full investigation”.

A party spokesman said: “It took just ten weeks for Keir Starmer to be investigated for his conduct.

“After Parliament has been accused of nepotism and now obviously of serious violations of parliamentary rules of procedure, the glasses pass scandal must be fully investigated.

“Given Labour's cruel cuts, the millions of vulnerable pensioners across the country, forced to choose between heating and food, would no doubt jump at the chance to get free clothes just to keep warm.”

It is rare for party donors to receive security passes, but Downing Street declined to say whether Sir Keir or Sue Gray, his influential chief of staff, had authorized the pass.

The revelations about Lord Alli follow the appointment of a number of former Labour staff and advisers to government and civil service positions, meaning they receive salaries funded by taxpayers' money.

Ian Corfield, who donated £5,000 to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has been given a temporary job at the Treasury to oversee the organisation of an international summit later this year.

When news of his appointment became known, he was relegated to the role of unpaid political adviser.

A poll late last week found Sir Keir's unpopularity at its highest level in over three years.

Forty-six percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable opinion of the prime minister, the highest since June 2021, after Labour lost a traditionally safe seat in a by-election.