Sir Keir Starmer joined famous Labour supporters at a party in Downing Street Gardens hours after laying flowers for children killed in a knife attack in Southport, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The Prime Minister mingled with Labour supporters at a barbecue at Number 10 on the evening of July 30 following floral tributes in Southport earlier that day, where three children were stabbed during a dance class.
Celebrity guests at the event included TV presenter June Sarpong, soap actress Michelle Collins and Helen Thorne and Ellie Gibson, who host the Scooby Mummy podcast.
MOS can reveal that the event was also attended by Labour donor Lord Wahid Ali, who has donated more than £900,000 to the party and its candidates since 2004.
This newspaper understands that Sir Keir arrived at the party in the Downing Street Rose Gardens at around 8pm. About half an hour later, Southport erupted in violence and hundreds of people stormed a mosque. It was previously reported that Lord Ali, whose fortune is estimated at £200m, hosted a post-election reception in Downing Street Gardens with other people who helped fund the campaign.
Prime Minister Kier Starmer (right) arrives to lay a wreath at a child victim of a knife attack in Southport on July 30, 2024.
Ellie Gibson (left) and Helen Thorne (right), who present the Scooby Mummy podcast, attend Downing Street
Mrs Sarpong, a former girlfriend of Foreign Secretary David Lammy, poses for a photograph outside Number 10 with Larry the Downing Street cat.
EastEnders actress Michelle Collins also posted a photo posing outside Number 10.
The Prime Minister’s message read: ‘Our hearts are with the victims, the families and the people of Southport. There are no words for such profound loss. The thoughts of the nation are with you.’ The message is signed by Kier Starmer.
Labour sources have denied that Lord Ali organised, hosted or paid for the barbecue on 30 July, but admitted he was among the Labour supporters who attended.
Last night Sir Keir faced accusations of hypocrisy after claiming last month that the Tories’ Rose Garden, where Boris Johnson was pictured eating cheese and drinking wine with workers during the first Covid lockdown, had ‘become a symbol of the rot in their hearts’.
Conservative MP Sir Alec Shellbrook said: “Sir Keir has been exposed as a hypocrite of the worst kind.”
“The only thing wrong here is that Sir Keir’s behaviour in government does not match his pious, holier-than-thou words.”
He added: “Given the horrific events that took place the day before, it was extremely delicate for Sir Kier and the Labour Party to go ahead with this party.”
“At least the Prime Minister should have postponed it.”
Reform MP Richard Tice said the party had “shown an incredible lack of empathy, compassion and awareness of the state of the country”.
According to sources, the barbecue was held between 5.30pm and 7.30pm to thank volunteers and staff for their hard work and support during the election campaign.
More than 100 guests were served sausages and rosé wine and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rainer made a speech before Sir Keir arrived.
Sarpong, a former girlfriend of Foreign Secretary David Lammy, poses for a photograph outside Number 10 with Larry the Downing Street cat.
“After 14 SO many years, it’s fantastic to be back in Number 10 with a Labour Prime Minister in residence!” she later wrote on Instagram.
The Prime Minister paid her floral tributes in Southport
Sir Keir Taylor Swift pays floral tribute to three young women stabbed to death during dance class
Sir Keir walks through the Downing Street Rose Garden. After Boris Johnson was photographed enjoying wine and cheese in the garden during the Covid lockdown, Sir Keir called it a “symbol of the rot at the heart of his government”.
Conservative MP Sir Alec Shellbrook (pictured right) said: “Sir Keir has been exposed as a hypocrite of the worst kind.”
Reform MP Richard Tice (pictured) said the party had shown “an incredible lack of empathy, compassion and awareness of the state of the country”.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper walks with flowers near the spot where three children were murdered in Southport.
Ms Cooper (pictured laying a wreath) made a chilling statement in the House of Commons in which she updated MPs on the “devastating attack” in Southport and named the three victims.
Just before 6.30pm, as the barbecue was underway, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made a scathing statement in the House of Commons updating MPs on the “devastating attack” in Southport and naming the three victims.
Earlier in the day, Sir Keir paid his respects in the seaside town when a man announced: “Here’s your photo opportunity.”
A Labour source said: ‘The Tories have been partying drunk and banging on walls while the country is playing by the rules.
“The Rose Garden has been brought back into service and was used to thank people across the country who gave their all for Labour’s victory.”
