By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-09-23 06:55:29 | Updated at 2024-09-30 07:22:40
1 week ago
The Labour Government must be “transparent” about donations and free gifts, the Chancellor has said.
Rachel Reeves was speaking after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer and his wife had accepted thousands of pounds in clothes from Lord Alli, a millionaire donor.
Ms Reeves also accepted £7,500 in clothing from one of her friends for during the election campaign.
Asked about the clothes she received, she told Sky News: “I really appreciated that support. It made a big difference to me. It was never something that I planned to continue in government as Chancellor.
“And that’s not something I’ll be doing, but I was grateful for that support and politicians and political campaigns do rely on donations. But I do get people’s concerns about it and it’s why I think it’s so important that politicians are always transparent and declare things that they get support with.
“I don’t begrudge people going to watch a football match or going to a concert, but I think it is so important that things are done transparently, and that now in government we hold ourselves to the highest possible standards.”
Reeves: I want to lead most pro-growth Treasury ever
Rachel Reeves declared she wanted to lead the most “pro-growth” Treasury ever.
She told Sky News: “Bringing that stability, as well as the reform, the creation of the National Wealth Fund, the reforms of our planning system, unlocking investment from pensions to help start up and scale up businesses...
“This is all part of our agenda to be the most pro-growth Government that this country has ever seen, because there is immense potential, huge potential, in our creative industries, in our professional services, in tech industries, low-carbon technologies.
“I want those jobs here in Britain, there’s a global race on for these jobs, but if we can make the changes, which I’m determined to bring about.”
Labour delays potentially humiliating winter fuel vote
Labour has delayed a potentially humiliating vote on its winter fuel raid until the final day of its annual conference, writes our Political Correspondent Amy Gibbons.
A motion urging the Government to reverse the decision to scrap the payments for millions of pensioners had been expected to be put to the floor this afternoon.
But The Telegraph understands it will now take place on Wednesday, typically the quietest day of the conference when business is winding down.
The vote has been forced by trade unions, who are piling pressure on the Prime Minister to restore the universal benefit.
Union sources had expected it to take place today. However, Labour decided it should be held on Wednesday instead. It is understood the unions are planning to protest the decision, with the aim of moving the vote back to today.
Unite, one of Labour’s biggest donor unions, lashed out at the decision to delay the vote, describing the party as “tin eared”. It would be an embarrassment for Downing Street if the motion passed, meaning the conference had officially opposed the winter fuel cut.
Good morning
Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Correspondent, guiding you through the second day of Labour’s annual party conference here in Liverpool.
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is seeking to strike an optimistic note about the long-term future of the economy during her broadcast media round as she prepares to make a keynote speech at midday.
