A Conservative MP has claimed Sir Keir Starmer just gives him a “glare, stare, or blank expression” whenever he holds a door open for the Labour leader in Westminster.
Simon Jupp, who represents East Devon, made the bad manners accusation on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said “most people signal their thanks” but “never Sir Keir”.
An indignant Mr Jupp tagged Sir Keir in his post and wrote: “On several occasions, I have held the door open on the Parliamentary estate for Sir Keir Starmer and did so moments ago, as I try to do for everyone.
“Most people signal their thanks, but never Sir Keir. I just get a glare, stare, or blank expression. Good manners cost nothing.”
However, Sir Keir Starmer may be most interested in stopping his own MPs walking out of the door as he was hit by a wave of resignations tonight over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.
Jess Phillips became the most high-profile Labour MP to quit the frontbench after voting in the Commons for a ceasefire.
She was joined by seven shadow ministers pledging to vote for an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech backing a ceasing all fighting.
In October Sir Keir mentioned doors during a by-election victory againt the SNP in Rutherglen, Scotland, when he made a triumphant speech to activists saying: “They said: ‘You’ll never beat the SNP in Scotland,’ and Rutherglen, you did it. You blew the doors off!”
And in February the Labour chief told members from the hard left of the party: “If you don’t like the changes that we’ve made, I say the door is open and you can leave.”
Of course the main door Sir Keir will be thinking about is the one that opens onto Number 10 as he prepares to fight an election next year, with most polls currently putting Labour miles ahead of the Conservatives.
Tonight, though, could prove to be his first major test in months, as several high-profile MPs resigned over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In total at the time of writing eight shadow ministers and two parliamentary private secretaries have left the frontbench after voting for a ceasefire in Gaza against the party line, Labour said.
The eight shadow ministers are Paula Barker, Rachel Hopkins, Afzal Khan, Sarah Owen, Jess Phillips, Yasmin Qureshi, Naz Shah and Andy Slaughter.
Parliamentary private secretaries Dan Carden and Mary Foy have also left the frontbench.
Express.co.uk have contacted Sir Keir’s office for comment.
