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  • If I offer you a suite at the Dorchester, it's not like I give you the money, it's just that they have a spare suite and I offer it's use. Hmm....

    The stuff about Johnson is whataboutery. Ignoring that, he was likely the most venal politician of his generation, so he's probably not someone you'd want to be measured against.

    Starmer's key campaign messages, were a return to steady, technocratic government, fairness and removing the grift from politics. I can see why people would bristle - the fact his personal ratings are below Sunak's tend to suggest people do care about the appearances.

    I think Starmer had an astonishingly easy ride from the media in opposition. His team are disastrously complacent if they expected that to carry over into office.

  • If I offer you a suite at the Dorchester, it's not like I give you the money, it's just that they have a spare suite and I offer it's use. Hmm....

    That's not remotely it though is it?

    He's wealthy and has properties, so he lent one to Starmer's son to use to get away from the press and limelight. It's in exactly the same bracket as Rayner spending NYE in his place in New York. If you knew someone with an empty flat in NYC and wanted a holiday would you take it? Full disclosure my BIL used to have a place in the Costa del Sol and we once stayed there for free.

    Does is suck that, that isn't available to everyone? Yes, of course. In the same way that having a parent die before your exams isn't fair. Or having enough money for one parent not to work so they can support and coach you isn't fair.

    What is the crux of the issue here? That Lord Alli, Labour member of the house of Lords of >25yrs who's been key in their fundraising efforts has too much contact with the Labour Party? It's not whataboutism to reference Johnson's flat it's a spot on compare and contrast that highlights why they're not the same issue.

  • I'd absolutely take a free offer of a flat, but then I'm not PM and didn't campaign (partly) on taking the grift out of politics. Making a distinction between a rich friend paying for a suite at the Dorchester and offering an empty property seems like sophistry to me - they're both receiving something of value. Where do you draw the line?

    Responding to an question or accusation with a counter accusation is whataboutery, right? I'll stipulate that Johnson was as picture perfect example of corruption as it's possible to find in UK politics, but that does nowt to address the issue of Starmer accepting hospitality.

  • Full disclosure my BIL used to have a place in the Costa del Sol and we once stayed there for free.

    Did you feel any obligation to him, and a psychological desire to return the favour in kind?

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