Rishi Sunak and Keith Starmer

Shoes
Charles Chapman (b. 1955)
Photo Credit: Arts Council Collection 

 

Rishi Sunak has apologised to all fans of Adidas Samba trainers after being accused of ruining their credibility when he was pictured in a pair. The prime minister said he was "a longtime devotee" of the brand. He made the apology after wearing the grey, white and black trainers in a Downing Street interview, paired with a white shirt, navy chinos and black socks. Many social media users have said they will sell their shoes. GQ magazine said:

"Rishi Sunak took an eternally cool sneaker and ruined it for everyone".

(Aletha Adu, The Guardian, 2024)

No apology needed. You wear whatever footwear you want to. As for the many social media users selling their Adidas Samba trainers because Rishi Sunak wears them the question must be asked. Why? Does it really matter who wears these trainers?

Keith Starmer

The normally buttoned-up Keith Starmer [leader of the Labour party] won plaudits earlier this month for an impassioned speech in praise of British culture...

Sir Keith does indeed love culture - though he doesn't always love to pay for it. Last summer, an openDemocracy analysis found he had accepted more free tickets to sports events, concerts and parties than the combined total of every other Labour leader since records began in 1997, worth nearly £30,000.

He has hoovered up gifts including football tickets, days at the races and gig tickets for acts such as Adele and Coldplay - paid for by firms including online shopping app Getir, Just Eat and construction giant Mulalley & Co.

Since then, the freebies have kept coming with eight more outings worth almost £13,000, according to the Eye's calculations. The most recent Starmer outing is part of a Premier League schmoozing offensive with Labour figures. This month it also paid for culture and sport committee member Rupa Huq and shadow minister Liz Kendall, Peter Kyle and Pat McFadden to attend the Brit Awards - just as a new football regulator, of which the mighty Premier League is highly suspicious, begins its life.

(Private Eye, No 1620, 2024)

The acceptance of gifts, by politicians of all parties, from various individuals and businesses is well established. Why are these gifts offered? Will the giver of the gift expect something in return? The expression you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours comes to mind.