Keir Starmer’s premiership so far has been marred by scandals, resignations and rebellions.
From Freebiegate to political infighting, here is a timeline of the leader’s first three tumultuous months in Downing Street – and the five issues that have dogged him.
23 July
Seven MPs suspended for supporting amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit
In a move that sent shock waves through the party, Starmer suspended seven MPs in an unprecedented response to a rebellion supporting an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit.
Those who lost the whip for six months included the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana, prompting significant anger from backbench MPs. The Nottingham East MP, Nadia Whittome, said the decision was “appalling” and the party should be able to “tolerate disagreement without making threats and employing the most severe punishments”.
17 September
The freebie scandal takes hold
The long-running row over freebies accepted by Starmer and other Labour figures reached its peak in September when it was revealed the prime minister had declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times.
He was found to have taken more than £100,000 of freebies in the form of tickets, clothes and accommodation, including £4,000 in Taylor Swift tickets and £20,000 of accommodation from the Labour donor Waheed Alli. Lord Alli also gave Starmer £2,435 worth of glasses and £16,200 worth of work clothing, as well as clothes for his wife, Victoria, that were not initially declared.
It was later announced that Labour figures would stop accepting clothes as free gifts, and Starmer repaid £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he had received since taking office.
25 September
Backlash over removing pensioners’ winter fuel allowance
At the party’s conference in September, the leadership lost a highly anticipated motion that called on ministers to reverse the cuts to winter fuel payments.
The vote was carried – albeit narrowly – to loud cheers in the conference hall, after Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, had criticised Starmer for removing the allowance while “leaving the super-rich untouched”.
It came two weeks after a controversial Commons vote when dozens of Labour MPs refused to back the plan to cut the winter fuel allowance after a tense debate in the chamber. Party sources said those who missed the vote were stripped of potential privileges and warned about their future conduct.
28 September
Rosie Duffield resigns with scathing attack on Starmer
In what was thought to be the fastest an MP has given up their party’s whip after an election in modern times, the Canterbury MP, Rosie Duffield, resigned from the party in a furious letter to Starmer denouncing his “cruel and unnecessary” policies.
Although Duffield has long been critical of the party’s leader, her comments to him about the freebie scandal – that it had made her “so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party” – will have come as a blow to Downing Street.
6 October
Sue Gray’s resignation as Starmer’s chief of staff
After months of government in-fighting involving Sue Gray, Starmer’s chief of staff accused by some of “control freakery” and holding up policy decisions in Downing Street, she announced she was stepping down.
She was blamed by some Labour figures for the party’s inability to avoid the controversy over freebies, and her £170,000 salary – higher than the prime minister’s – prompted fury among the party. She has now resigned, saying the “intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change”. She is to take up a new government role as the prime minister’s envoy for the regions and nations.
