DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Sir Sponger isn't cut from a different cloth
No one was more pious in lecturing the country over the supposed corruption, cronyism and impropriety of the last Tory government than Sir Keir Starmer.
His promise that Labour would set a new benchmark in ethical government helped persuade a country heartily sick of sleaze to make him prime minister.
How richly ironic then that, after less than three months in power, the chief tut-tutter and his colleagues are so mired in scandal.
Far from donning a hair shirt, Sir Keir has proved to be a sponger par excellence, gobbling up £107,000 worth of gifts and hospitality from wealthy donors.
Less Mr Integrity, more Sir Freebie!
No one was more pious in lecturing the country over the supposed corruption, cronyism and impropriety of the last Tory government than Sir Keir Starmer, Daily Mail comments
How richly ironic then that, after less than three months in power, the chief tut-tutter and his colleagues are so mired in scandal, Daily Mail comments
Labour peer Lord Alli (pictured) – who provided lavish clothes and luxury accommodation for the PM – is under investigation by the standards watchdog
The PM’s defence for his uninhibited acceptance of suits, frocks for his wife, football and gig tickets is that it was within ‘the rules’. But that doesn’t make it right.
Finally, Sir Keir seems to have accepted that. Why else would he have paid back £6,000 – including, incredibly, the cost of a hair and make-up session for Lady Starmer?
Downing Street’s almost comical excuse is that he wants to set a new standard in propriety ahead of an overhaul of hospitality rules for MPs. He got caught, they mean.
Meanwhile, Labour peer Lord Alli – who provided lavish clothes and luxury accommodation for the PM – is under investigation by the standards watchdog.
The tycoon, who secured a pass to No 10, allegedly failed to declare his financial interests in a company based in a tax haven.
We are quickly learning that Labour is not, in fact, cut from a different cloth to the Tories. They are just as venal and morally bankrupt – if not more so.
One has to wonder why Sir Keir and his pals were so happy to throw stones. After all, people in glass houses.
Big chance for Israel
This picture shows a projectile being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya
Many rockets, fired from Iran, were seen flying over Jerusalem from Hebron, West Bank
For five decades, Iran has been waging war against Israel from the shadows.
Hiding behind a collection of murderous proxies, the Islamic republic has obsessively pursued the wholesale destruction of the Jewish state.
Tehran paid and armed Hamas – responsible for the October 7 atrocities – and Hezbollah, which has rained rockets on Israeli homes almost every day since.
With Tel Aviv responding by inflicting perhaps irreparable damage on both terror groups, the humiliated mullahs have started to directly engage in combat.
On Tuesday, the rogue state launched 181 ballistic missiles against Israel. This is provocation masquerading as retaliation.
Fortunately, thanks to the air defences of Israel and its allies, the strike was a damp squib – further embarrassing Iran. When mulling over an attack, the brutal regime may have been emboldened by Joe Biden consistently urging Israel to show restraint. And it will surely have noted Sir Keir’s actions.
Yesterday, the PM insisted Britain ‘stands with Israel’. Fine words indeed. Why, then, did his government shamefully and stupidly ban crucial arms exports to Tel Aviv?
It would have inevitably sent a message that our support was waning. With tensions rising in the Middle East, the question now is what comes next?
While Tehran has said its revenge is complete, Israel cannot realistically let it pass. It would be dangerous to signal that similar attacks in future could go unpunished.
The most obvious targets are military or oil sites, or even Iran’s nuclear programme. Yes, some say that if each act of retaliation leads to another, war will not be far away.
But Iran is weakened and on the back foot. Israel may never have a better chance to press home its advantage and destroy those who want to wipe it from the map.
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