Starmer denies he has focused more on ‘Partygate’ than cost of living

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has attempted to shift focus from allegations the shadow cabinet has clashed over his campaigning on the “partygate” scandal.

According to a Huffington Post report, shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy criticised the party’s focus on the alleged No 10 and Whitehall lockdown gatherings complained at last week’s shadow cabinet meeting.

Sir Keir referred to the “partygate” issue three times in the Commons last week.

The Huffington Post claims that: “Nandy said there was a danger that voters would think ‘we’re all as bad as each other’ if Labour continued to focus on Boris Johnson’s woes over lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street. She said Labour risked looking ‘out of touch’ at a time when families across the country are struggling to make ends meet.”

The magazine also claims other shadow ministers clashed with Nandy on the matter.

Starmer told journalists this afternoon that he remained focused on the cost of living crisis, explaining that “When we started the campaign, we had a laser-like focus on the cost of living and we’ve maintained that throughout.

This morning Starmer reaffirmed Labour’s demands for an emergency budget, explaining: “The cost-of-living crisis has been staring us in the face for six months now and it’s a real problem for people struggling with their bills – and the cabinet meeting this morning isn’t going to change any of that.”