'We need fresh start on freebies for ministers if government wants to clean up politics'

The Tories were in full cry when it emerged and other ministers had accepted .

Their anger was not just confected but hypocritical given they had similar freebies in office. Leadership contender James Cleverly received tickets to Wimbledon, the Six Nations and a film premiere.

Under rules introduced by he was under no obligation to declare the value of these freebies. has now pledged to close this loophole. It is a welcome start but the Starmer government should go further if they are serious about cleaning up politics.

They could start with a cap on individual donations, appointing a fully independent ethics adviser and stripping PMs of the right to appoint donors and cronies to the Lords. Although acting within the rules, Mr Starmer burnt his fingers by accepting so many gifts. He can learn from this and usher in a new era of standards in public life.

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Price too high

Just as in Gaza, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Lebanon after Israel’s attack. The vast majority of Lebanese resent the presence of Hezbollah in their country.

They are caught in a conflict they neither wanted nor encouraged yet Benjamin Netanyahu’s government seems blind to their plight. More than 2,000 have died since bombing began at the beginning of October and more than a million have been displaced.

The Israeli Defence Forces have also carried out airstrikes on the crossing into Syria which innocent victims of the bombardment were using to flee to safety. Israel has the right to secure its borders. But that should not come at the price of so many civilian lives.

Snappy Xmas

Polaroid cameras are back in fashion and high on people’s Christmas gift lifts. It’s taken a bit of time but they’ve once again developed into a must-have item.

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