Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of ‘running scared’ of a TV interrogation after a torrid week for him and his Government.
The Prime Minister faced claims he was dodging the BBC’s time-honoured pre-Labour conference interview, broadcast this morning, after it emerged that his deputy Angela Rayner would be grilled by Laura Kuenssberg instead.
Traditionally it is the party leader who is interviewed as the conference gets under way.
And last night there were also reports the embattled PM’s chief of staff Sue Gray would now not attend the Liverpool conference amid the controversy over her role at No 10 and donations to Sir Keir.
Tory Party chairman Richard Fuller said: ‘Who can blame the PM for running scared after a week where it’s been revealed he doesn’t buy his own clothes, when his chief of staff got a bumper pay rise, and his poll rating has plummeted?’
Sir Keir Starmer was accused of ‘running scared’ of a TV interview after he dodged the BBC’s time-honoured pre-Labour conference grilling
The PM arriving with Angela Rayner at the Labour conference. His deputy will be questioned by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
BBC sources denied suggestions that Sir Keir had pulled out of the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, saying it was known three days ago that Ms Rayner would do the interview.
Labour denied any change of plan and pointed out Sir Keir had faced Ms Kuenssberg just two weeks ago.
It comes as the Mail On Sunday revealed that the Prime Minister joined celebrity backers for a barbecue party in Downing Street – just hours after laying flowers for the children murdered in the Southport knife attack.
The event was attended by Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli, who has given more than £900,000 to the party and its candidates since 2004.
Last night there were reports that the PM’s Chief of Staff Sue Gray would not attend the conference in Liverpool amid recent controversies
Sir Keir Starmer being interviewed on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg in Downing Street on September 7. BBC sources denied he had pulled out of today’s episode, saying it was known that Ms Rayner was doing the interview three days ago
Other celebrity attendees included TV presenter June Sarpong, soap actress Michelle Collins, and Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson, who present the Scummy Mummies podcast.
Sir Keir is understood to have arrived at the party at around 8pm, as violence erupted in Southport, with hundreds attacking a mosque.
Meanwhile, Downing Street has confirmed that Sir Keir, Rachel Reeves and Ms Rayner will no longer accept donations for clothing in future, in a bid to draw a line on rows over gifts to senior cabinet members.
The PM has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for taking over £100,000 worth of gifts and hospitality in the past five years, including donations to fund glasses as well as his and his wife’s clothes.
