Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has defended Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after he declared he had accepted more than £100,000 in freebies and gifts. Asked about whether it was “justifiable”, Reynolds said, “I don’t think there’s a problem with that”.
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00:00Look, I think people, first of all, recognise that the scrutiny any Prime Minister or any
00:04senior person in public life is under is different to most people. I think particularly in relation
00:10to formal cultural sporting events, people know at times the Prime Minister will be invited
00:15to those things. Again, that's got to be declared. But I don't think, for instance, people recognise
00:20that if you are the Prime Minister, you can't just walk into a football ground, it's going
00:25to be a little bit different. And I do think they understand that. Again, I think there
00:28are different ways, different things by which people are supported. I think the Prime Minister
00:33formally attending events is a different thing. And again, it's about transparency. We've
00:38got very clear rules in this country about that. And I think that is fair, reasonable
00:43and really doesn't distract from the core thing, which is, is the government delivering
00:48on its promises? And we are. That's what we're cracking on with and delivering. And I don't
00:51think the Prime Minister going to watch Arsenal is a problem in relation. I think the main
00:55thing is, is the government tackling those crises? Is it working to make sure the public
01:00finances are stable and the prosperity, the public services we want on top of that are
01:04able to be delivered? And as long as any relationship, any gift, any attendance is declared in the
01:11proper way, I don't think there's a problem with that. I think what people will judge
01:15any government on, is it cracking on and delivering on its promises? And this government is.