Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to “shed a few pounds” by Lord Mandelson, who believes that if the Labour leader improved his appearance, his party’s chances at winning the general election would improve too.
The former First Secretary of State also advised Rishi Sunak to enhance his presentation, criticising his outfit choices which “diminish him rather than expand him”.
Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Starmer should lose weight has been slammed by Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, who said he was opposed to “fat-shaming”.
Starmer, who has been a vegetarian for almost 30 years, has raised his children as vegetarians, telling the Table Manners podcast last July: “We don’t have meat or fish in the house, we don’t cook it.”
Keir Starmer has been 'fat-shamed' by Lord Mandelson
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He has admitted to sometimes caving into cravings, with a biography by Tom Baldwin explaining how Starmer was once given a takeaway box of chicken whilst he was the shadow Brexit secretary, of which he “ate every morsel”.
In contrast, Sunak has admitted to having a sweet tooth, and often snacks on sugary treats. To counteract this, he will often skip meals or fast for periods of time, a ritual he described as being an “important discipline”.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Rishi revealed that from 5.00pm on a Sunday afternoon until 5.00am on Tuesday, he consumes no food and has a diet of only water, tea or black coffee.
“I think it’s important we have healthy lifestyles, that’s part of what I do, but I also have a weakness for sugary things, which I indulge in the rest of the week,” he told The Times in January.
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Lord Mandelson also critiqued Rishi Sunak's appearance
PAThe Prime Minister implements a “structure” for his children’s meals, ensuring they eat a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables, he revealed in an interview with Grazia magazine alongside his wife Akshata Murty.
Lord Mandelson also critiqued the way Sunak dresses, taking particular issue with his use of skinny ties.
He said the accessory also made the Prime Minister "gawky".
Earlier this month, Mandelson critiqued Starmer's plans for a reform of the House of Lords, which would see an unelected Lords swapped for an elected second chamber representing the UK's nations and regions
Lord Mandelson also slammed Starmer's House of Lords proposals
PA
He said that the proposals are "not even half baked".
Mandelson said the proposals to reform the Lords were adopted by Starmer's party without a "substantive discussion" over their benefits.
In an interview with Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker, Mandelson said: "I think that we’ve got to have a far deeper conversation and analysis about this than has taken place to date.
"We haven’t had a substantive discussion about it in our own party, let alone a debate in the country.
"And yet we’re told six months away from a general election, all this is going to happen, abracadabra, in the first term of a Labour government. I mean there are real issues of principle."
