Andy Burnham is reportedly bringing Lord Alli back into a prominent Labour fundraising role, just over a year after the peer became a central figure in the "freebies" row that damaged Sir Keir Starmer over gifts of designer clothing and glasses. The move, revealed by the Mail on Sunday, is being read as part of a drive to shore up the party's finances after donations dried up under Starmer, with some insiders speculating it could signal preparations for an early election. One business source expressed surprise at the decision, calling it "not a good look" given the previous controversy.

Lord Alli, a television executive reportedly worth around £200 million, is expected to host a fundraising dinner for backers during the Labour conference in Liverpool this month. He led the party's fundraising effort for the 2024 general election and has donated more than £500,000 to Labour since 2020, in addition to personal gifts to Starmer and Cabinet members. The renewed role comes as Electoral Commission figures show Labour trailing the Conservatives and Reform in donations, while Labour said it looked forward to welcoming members and supporters to its conference.