Sir Keir Starmer slammed for “crass” golf club snub

Sir Keir Starmer has been singled out for criticism after turning down an honorary membership of a prestigious golf club, breaking with more than 100 years of tradition in the process.

The Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister passed up the opportunity to join Ellesborough Golf Club.

Built on land that was originally part of the Chequers Estate – the Prime Minister’s country retreat – the club has offered an honorary membership to every PM since David Lloyd George in 1917.

Since then, every incumbent of 10 Downing Street has accepted the offer. Starmer, however, has declined – and some members of the club are not happy.

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Michael Knight, a member of Ellesborough for over 30 years, described Starmer’s snub as “crass” and “more driven by hatred of the rich than by love and cocnern for the poor.”

He added: ““I don’t know why he thinks he has any need to reject us out of hand and change 100 years of tradition and history that was gracefully accepted by all of his predecessors.

“There’s a huge amount of history involved here, and we’re just given two fingers, and that’s that.”

Downing Street has not yet commented on the matter but it has been speculated that the furore caused by the “freebies” scandal, which dominated the Labour leader’s first few months in office, may have been influenced Starmer’s decision.

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It is not known if Starmer plays golf. He is, though, a keen football fan and an Arsenal season ticket holder.

Ellesborough Golf Club’s website states: “Because of the club’s historic association with Chequers, honorary membership is enjoyed by the prime minister of the day and courtesy of the course extended to any of his guests staying at Chequers.”

Clement Atlee and Harold Wilson are said to have taken full advantage of the offer both during and after their terms in office, whilst former US president Bill Clinton – an extremely keen golfer – has also played there.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor