A third Cabinet minister used one of Lord Alli’s homes, hosting a fundraising event at the Labour donor’s penthouse attended by actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and fellow Labour MP Kim Leadbeater mingled with 20 to 30 guests at the reception in March 2022, which raised £20,000 in donations.
They declared the value of the event as £4,600, which included the cost of drinks and catering paid for by Lord Alli.
It raises fresh questions about the extent to which Lord Alli, a media entrepreneur, made his £18 million London penthouse available to Labour MPs, following disclosures about Sir Keir Starmer’s repeated use of the property also used by Mr Streeting, and Angela Rayner’s use of a flat in New York.
The reception hosted by Mr Streeting at the Covent Garden flat was so high-powered that it prompted speculation in Labour circles that he was preparing for a leadership bid in case Sir Keir stood down for any reason.
Guests at the event included Lord Cashman, the former EastEnders actor, and Linda Riley, an LGBT rights activist.
At the time, Mr Streeting said Sir Keir’s office was “fully aware of the event”.
Ms Leadbeater, who is the MP for Batley and Spen and the sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox, split the money raised at the event equally with Mr Streeting.
A spokesman for Ms Leadbeater said: “It was all declared at the time and it was perfectly legitimate.” Mr Streeting has been approached for comment.
The disclosure was made as Sir Keir Starmer made a joke about his use of Lord Alli’s penthouse as he met with US business chiefs in New York on Thursday.
The Prime Minister, who is looking to attract investment in the UK, said of the UK consul general’s residence: “I’d like to pretend this is my apartment to welcome you to.”
Sir Keir made the quip after it emerged that four months before Mr Streeting’s drinks reception, in December 2021, he filmed a Covid-era broadcast urging the public to work from home in Lord Alli’s flat.
Behind him in the video was a picture of himself with his wife and children, as well as Christmas cards, which viewers might have interpreted to mean he was in his own home.
A spokesman for Sir Keir declined to say why the family picture was there, or whether it was placed there deliberately, but confirmed it was not a Christmas card sent out by Sir Keir.
The spokesman also said Sir Keir did not have keys to Lord Alli’s flat, but would not discuss whether his taxpayer-funded security detail had been required to carry out a sweep of the premises.
Lord Alli bought the flat in January 2020, four months before Sir Keir became Labour leader, for £18,350,000.
Sir Keir and his family stayed in the flat for several weeks during the general election campaign, which he has defended by saying he needed somewhere quiet to stay while his son was doing his GCSEs.
He also received more than £16,000 for clothing and spectacles from Lord Alli, with further donations for Lady Starmer, his wife.
Other Cabinet members who have benefited from donations from Lord Alli include David Lammy, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, Liz Kendall and Bridget Phillipson.
