Starmer says he wants ‘best people’ after cronyism claims

Speaking to reporters after a speech in the Downing Street garden, Sir Keir said the peer – who was appointed to the House of Lords by Tony Blair in 1998 – was a “long-term donor and contributor” to the party.

He added that he was given a temporary pass that has now expired, adding it was to help with “transition work” for the new government.

The prime minister was also asked about the wider issue of political recruitment following scrutiny over a number of appointments in recent weeks.

This includes hiring Labour donor Ian Corfield into a Treasury role to help deliver an investment summit in October. It is understood his role will now be unpaid, following a row over his appointment earlier this month.

A researcher at a Labour-linked think tank has also been recruited into a senior Civil Service role, as has a former consultant at a lobbying firm that paid for her to be seconded to the office of Technology Secretary Peter Kyle when Labour was in opposition.