Lord Waheed Alli has taken on greater prominence with Sir Keir Starmer facing allegations he broke parliamentary rules by failing to declare donations from the millionaire Labour peer.
The 59-year-old television entrepreneur has donated more than £500,000 to Labour over the past two decades but has mostly remained a background figure in the party.
However, he hit the headlines last month when it was revealed that the Prime Minister had handed him a temporary pass into Downing Street.
The controversy was dubbed “passes for glasses” as Lord Alli had donated tens of thousands of pounds to Sir Keir’s office, including for designer spectacles.
Now it has emerged that the life peer covered the costs of Lady Victoria Starmer’s personal shopper, clothes and alterations before and after Labour’s election win in July, according to the Sunday Times.
Sir Keir says he approached the parliamentary authorities to make a late declaration of interests after receiving updated advice on what needed to be registered. The PM said it was “very important” to him that rules are followed and that “we have transparency”.
But the Conservatives, who have faced huge controversies of their own over “cash for access” related to wealthy donors, are demanding an investigation by the parliamentary standards office.
Lord Alli became the youngest, and first openly gay, member of the House of Lords when he was ennobled by Tony Blair in 1998 as part of the New Labour government’s attempts to shake up the upper chamber.
Here’s everything you need to know about the donor pegged to the clothing allowance controversy.
TV empire after leaving school at 16
Waheed Alli’s parents were Caribbean of Indian heritage. While his mother was Hindu, he took his father’s Muslim faith. He attended school in South Norwood and left aged 16 with nine O Levels.
He went from working in publishing for the late, disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell to investment banking, where he made his fortune.
He then formed a TV production company with Charlie Parsons which produced The Word, a pioneering foray into “zoo TV” focussed on youth culture and non-stop controversy broadcast on Channel 4.
They teamed up with Bob Geldof in 1992 to form Planet 24 Productions, which came up with period-defining hits including Big Breakfast and Survivor.
Campaigner for gay rights
Lord Alli was accused of being a New Labour stooge when he was made a life peer at the age of just 34.
But his background in youth TV made a good fit with Blair’s desire to broaden the appeal of politics and reform the House of Lords.
And he showed serious intent when he led the campaign to repeal Section 28, anti-gay legislation brought in by the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher.
Lord Alli spoke out in April 1999 when arguments around attempts to lower the age of consent for gay relationships from 18 were raging.
He told peers: “I am 34. I was gay when I was 24, when I was 21, when I was 20, when I was 19, when I was 18, when I was 17 and even when I was 16.
“I have never been confused about my sexuality. I have been confused about the way I am treated as a result of it.
“The only confusion lies in the prejudice shown, some of it tonight, and much of it enshrined in the law.”
Labour donor given No 10 pass
Despite not having a formal role in Sir Keir’s new government, Lord Alli was given a temporary pass for 10 Downing Street shortly after the July election.
Senior minister Pat McFadden stressed it was a temporary move for the peer to help in post-election planning meetings.
“I don’t think it’s unusual for people to have passes to attend political meetings if they need to do so,” he told Sky News last month.
But for the Tories, shadow paymaster general John Glen wrote to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case seeking clarification on when and by whom the pass was issued.
He said it was “deeply concerning that a pass was granted to a Labour donor providing unfettered access to the heart of government after significant cash and non-cash donations were made to the Labour Party”.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Lord Alli.