LABOUR donor Waheed Alli is under investigation by the House of Lords authorities for allegedly failing to properly declare his business dealings.
The Labour peer was thrust into the spotlight after the party’s election victory because of revelations about his lavish financial support for the Prime Minister and other senior figures, including buying clothes and funding birthday parties.
He has now been placed under investigation by the Lords commissioners for standards for "alleged non-registration of interests".
It was revealed late last month that Lord Alli failed to declare that he is the director of a company based in a tax haven.
He could stand to gain more than £425,000 from Mac (BVI) Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands, openDemocracy reported.
Lord Alli (above) added the role to his register of interests only after he was approached for comment on the investigative news site's story.
It is not yet clear whether this is the matter being investigated by the Lords authorities, who have been approached for further comment.
The National understands the investigation relates to elements of already declared interests and not to donations to Labour.
Lord Alli, who made his fortune in investment banking after rising through the ranks of the late Robert Maxwell's media empire, was ennobled by Tony Blair in 1998.
His financial support for Labour high command in the run-up to the election has raised eyebrows, with Lord Alli gifting expensive glasses and suits for Keir Starmer, dresses for his wife Victoria and clothes for Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner.
Starmer (below), the Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister were forced last month to announce they would no longer take gifts in the form of clothes from Lord Alli.
But the Prime Minister faces other questions about his involvement with the Labour-backing millionaire, after it emerged he used Lord Alli's flat to record a Christmas message in December 2021, when Covid restrictions were in place.
Starmer has given no explanation as to why he recorded the message there, but last week dismissed criticism of the move as "farcical".
He said: "Anybody who thinks that I was pretending it was my own home, the idea that I've got union jacks by my fireplace at home or that I would invite a bunch of you lot into my living room to have a look around.
"I mean, I think the idea that I was trying to pretend that it was my home is pretty farcical."
Labour have insisted that Alli's financial support for the party has been within the rules and the Prime Minister has said that "fact that he is already a Labour lord takes away any sense that there’s a reward for him".
The publicity-shy peer, who runs a talent agency and holds senior positions at a production firm and fashion company, also faces separate questions about gifting Rayner (above) a stay at his New York apartment over Hogmanay.
SNP MP Brendan O'Hara called for a more wide-ranging investigation into Lord Alli's gifts for ministers and the granting of a Downing Street pass, which gave him access to the heart of power in Westminster immediately after the election.
He said: "The Labour Party freebies scandal has wrecked public confidence in Keir Starmer, his government and the Westminster system, and there must be full transparency and accountability. "It's now essential that in addition to this narrow inquiry, there is a full investigation by Standards Commissioners and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests into all the donations made by Lord Alli to Labour MPs and the subsequent granting of a Downing Street security pass."
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Downing Street announced that the Prime Minister had paid back more than £6000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10.
Gifts he has paid back included four Taylor Swift tickets from Universal Music Group totalling £2,800, two from the Football Association at a cost of £598, and four to Doncaster Races from Arena Racing Corporation at £1,939.
An £839 clothing rental agreement with Edeline Lee, the designer recently worn by his wife to London Fashion Week, along with one hour of hair and makeup, was also covered by the Prime Minister.
A Labour spokesperson said: "Lord Alli will cooperate fully with the Lords’ Commissioner and he is confident all interests have been registered. We cannot comment further while this is ongoing."
Lord Alli was approached for comment.
