But is it a case of Leopards not changing their spots?
The hope for Labour supporters would be that Starmer's accepting gifts and questionable decision-making are just blips, and once these are out of the way, it will be plain(er) sailing.
But l don't think so. The spotlight does not shine anything like so brightly on the person in the wings, and now he's centre stage, I think we are seeing him for what he is.
He was on the TV over the weekend giving some speech at some factory or other - I only caught his speech not the whole event, so sure where he was. But I was struck by just how much creepy shit he came out with, aimed purely and simply at buttering up his audience. He'll go on to the next one and come out with an entirely different crock of shit, tailored to the next audience.
I think his behaviour, excessive expenses, trousering gifts, coming out with random lame excuses; these are not root causes of current Labour issues. They are symptoms of the man at the top. Someone who lacks a moral compass and who's real prime motivation has nothing to do with making the country better, but is all about him, his power, his ambition, his wealth. Someone who is arrogant enough to believe he is superior to everyone around him.