Keir Starmer responds to criticism over £20k accommodation donation for son's GCSE studies

Keir Starmer responds to criticism over accepting a £20,000 donation to cover accommodation for his son’s GCSE studies

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended accepting a £20,000 donation to secure accommodation for his 16-year-old son to study for his GCSEs during the general election campaign. The donation helped his son focus on his studies away from the media's attention as reporters gathered outside their home.

Speaking to Sky News’ Beth Rigby, Starmer explained, “I wasn’t going to let my son fail or not do well in his GCSEs because of journalists outside my house.” He emphasized that his priority was ensuring his son had the best possible environment to succeed in his exams, despite the distractions posed by the election.

The donation has sparked questions, but Starmer maintains that his decision was driven by the need to protect his son's academic performance. He added that the move was necessary due to the media pressure surrounding his family during the campaign period.

The prime minister has faced growing scrutiny, but he continues to defend his decision, prioritizing his son’s education over potential public criticism.