With his modest, hard-working NHS wife nowhere to be seen on the campaign trail to No10 — Sir Keir, you see, was a modern man, one not in need of a trophy wife — oh how quickly time (and a private jet) flies.
Nine weeks into the top job, and Sir Keir and his wife Victoria are rapidly getting the hang of this champagne socialism lark.
First came the private jets — from a man who slated former PM Rishi Sunak for his use of extravagant air travel, quipping: “I’ve prosecuted more people-smugglers than he’s had helicopter rides” — then the cronyism . . . something the “Son of a Toolmaker” promised to put an end to, during a speech in January.
Weeks after giving some of his pals — donors, erstwhile Labour figures, his mates with thick wallets — plum Whitehall roles, now another donor is dressing his wife.
Which is weird and creepy and all sorts of ick.
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In a playbook that is more Little Britain than anything Matt Lucas or David Walliams could have dreamt up, it’s emerged Lady Starmer has been gifted more than £5,000 worth of designer clobber over the past four months.
Lord Alli, a Labour peer worth more than £200million, also covered the cost of a personal shopper for Lady Vic.
Regardless of whether or not the new PM — one unquestionably enjoying the perks of his premiership — has breached parliamentary rules is beside the point.
The point is that this is a man who has spent the past few years knocking the Conservatives for their flagrant disregard of honesty, decency and basic codes of conduct.
And blaming the past 14 years of Conservative government for anything and everything, most notably an apparent £22billion fiscal black hole.
Presumably, then, the gaping black hole in Lady Vic’s closet — one urgently needing some new Me & Em frocks, a Sandro blouse and a few Kooples staples — is Rishi’s fault too?
Meet Keir Starmer's sassy wife, cool North London Lady Victoria, and why she is dreading life in Number 10
So how did Lady Starmer stem the tide of anger yesterday?
By wearing a (rented) custom-made polka-dot dress on the front row of London Fashion Week, of course.
Freebie-loving
She was there supporting London-based designer Edeline Lee, whose brand tagline reads: “Structured, feminine womenswear for the Future Lady.”
Or, in this instance, freebie-loving First Lady.
Sure, Lady Vic was doubtless there to support the British fashion industry but anyone can see that the optics here aren’t great.
Lord Alli previously bought Keir designer glasses.
At a time when the PM is depriving millions of hard-up pensioners of their winter fuel allowance, he really should have gone to Specsavers.
And as one reader pointed out yesterday: Lady Starmer isn’t in need of any allowance — she has, after all, an abundance of nice, warm, hand-stitched clothes to keep her snug this winter.
In short, the hypocrisy of the Starmers is quite something.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, sent in to bat for them on Sunday, insisted: “The truth is that successive prime ministers, unless you’re a billionaire like the last one, do rely on political donations so they can look their best . . . in the hope of representing the country.”
Does anyone really give two hoots what Lady Starmer looks like?
Personally, I’d prefer her in scrubs on an NHS ward.
Instead, her current aesthetic is giving Carrie Johnson and golden wallpaper.
This, let’s not forget, was a move Sir Keir previously mocked (Carrie and Boris famously redecorated No10 with gold wallpaper by the luxury designer Lulu Lytle, after deciding they didn’t like the existing John Lewis decor).
Indeed, he even turned up at John Lewis, cameras in tow, to browse the wallpaper section and show that he — unlike the Johnsons — was a man of the people.
How his supporters chuckled.
No one’s laughing now.
Don’t tell Piers, but sexy Stan’s the man
AS if one Morgan super-ego wasn’t enough.
Piers’ middle son, Stanley is on the cusp of cracking Hollywood after a performance-stealing role in new Amazon Prime drama The Serpent Queen.
But even better than the acting or the period drama itself – which is based on the life of 16th Century French queen Catherine de Medici – is the fans’ reaction upon discovering the exact circumstances of ”hot” Stanley’s gene pool.
Said one abashed fan: “I’ve been watching The Serpent Queen and thinking the Duke d’Anjou was cute, so I Googled him.
“Turns out he’s Piers Morgan’s son – horrified. Still would, but . . .”
Another posted: “He is so hot, he steals every scene. Bit of a shocker to find out who his dad is.”
Brilliant.
Jabs? So sick of 'em
LOTTIE MOSS has detailed her horrific experience at the hands of Ozempic, when she OD’d on a horse-strength dose and was hospitalised.
The model – sibling of supermodel Kate – has spoken out to stop others, who aren’t chronically overweight, from taking the drug.
Early last year, I did an investigation into fat jabs – the first national newspaper journalist, I believe, to do so.
By lying about my weight, and stuffing a pillow up my jumper for an online consultation, I ordered two pens – Ozempic, a weekly injection, and Wegovy, which required a daily jabbing – and excitedly got to work.
I was in LA at the time, where the stuff – originally used to treat Type 2 diabetes – was already massive (unlike the rapidly shrinking celebrities taking them).
I arrived at Robbie Williams and wife Ayda’s mansion to interview the pair, and promptly nipped behind a beautiful topiary bush to retch.
Anyway, after coming off the jabs because, well, I’m not a massive fatty or diabetic, I stored one in the fridge “for emergencies”.
That emergency hit last Christmas after I’d piled on an impressive 10lbs in three weeks.
Anyway, I jabbed. And – I think the official term is “karma” – was violently sick in a Waitrose bag for life on a packed commuter train.
Twice. Once under a table in First Class.
I had to get off the train two stops early to be sick in a bin on the platform.
I was sick for the next 18 hours. It was grim. Very, very grim.
As Lottie says: Unless you’re diabetic, or properly obese, don’t do it, kids.
Chris a joy to watch
STRICTLY Come Dancing has had an annus horribilis.
Not too surprising to learn, then, that viewing figures for the launch show on Saturday were down by one million.
But stick with it – comedian Chris McCausland might just bring back a bit of much-needed joy.
The show’s first blind contestant – who quipped his partner Dianne Buswell was thrilled to get him as she fancied having November off – is already proving a cracking addition.
Chatting to hosts Tess and Claudia, he threw in an excellent political jab in the presence of fellow contestant Dr Punam Krishan, deadpanning: “None of us can believe we’ve managed to get in the same room as a GP.”
Same, Chris, same.
LAST month a bloke was jailed for eight months after stealing 790 Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Yesterday Huw Edwards, who paid a convicted paedophile for indecent images of children, was spared prison.
Ah, British justice.
'Fun' & games
LITTLE has endeared me more to the Middleton family than reading son James’s book about his dog, Ella, who he credits with saving his life.
In it, Catherine and Pippa’s younger brother also fondly recalls ferocious battles of the clan’s favourite card game, Racing Demon, alongside Prince William.
He recalls: “William would flinch at our ruthless determination to win at all costs.
“He’d be delighted to be the first out – and no longer compelled to take part.”
An insight families everywhere will relate to.
DAVE GROHL, a chap named the “nicest man in rock” last year, has ’fessed- up to having a secret baby with another woman – one, notably, who isn’t his wife.
