His legendary U-turns have earned him the moniker Sir Flip Flop, but his indecision is not just limited to matters of state: Sir Keir Starmer has an equally on-off relationship with his tie.

When he appeared on BBC1's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, earlier this year he donned traditional neckwear.

But he did not afford the same courtesy to ITV presenter Richard Madeley, when he was grilled over his deputy Angela Rayner's council house - even though the Good Morning Britain host was wearing a tie.

The knotty issue of Tie Gate has even reached the Commons chamber. 

Seven years ago, former speaker John Bercow deemed that it was not obligatory for MPs to wear a tie if they were dressed in 'business-like attire'.

When Keir Starmer appeared on BBC1's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg earlier this year he donned traditional neckwear

But he did not afford the same courtesy to ITV presenter Richard Madeley, when he was grilled over his deputy Angela Rayner's council house

The ruling came after the Lib Dem trade and European affairs spokesman Tom Brake asked a question in the House without wearing a tie and Tory MP Peter Bone raised a point of order about the dress code. 

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Commons Speaker gets MPs in knots as he says they no longer have to wear TIES to ask questions in the chamber

However, last year, his successor Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled that MPs should smarten up, amending the 'Rules of Behaviour and Courtesies in the House of Commons' from 'men are encouraged' to 'men are expected' to wear a tie.

Tory MP Sir John Hayes said at the time: 'Parliamentarians have a duty to set a sartorial example which shows respect for others and self-respect, too. 

'Parliament is a formal place, not a hipster hangout.'

Certainly, Sir Keir has not got hot under the collar over the dress code in Parliament. 

He always wears a tie for Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, political conferences and parliamentary funerals.

But he appears to get tied up in knots over less formal occasions, wearing a tie to the Brighton v Arsenal football match - even Prince William has been known to dress down to watch his team Aston Villa.

Seven years ago, former speaker John Bercow deemed that it was not obligatory for MPs to wear a tie if they were dressed in 'business-like attire'

Keir Starmer always wears a tie for Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, political conferences and parliamentary funerals

Rachel Reeves (left) and Angela Rayner (right) pose with Keir Starmer outside the campaign bus. The Labour leader does not wear a tie

According to Debrett's Rupert Wesson 'context is critical' on when you should wear a tie. 'Clearly, just because you're Prime Minister, it doesn't mean you should wear a tie everywhere,' he said. 'It's not the 1930s.

'Working on the basis you can never be overdressed, it's better to err on the side of caution and wear a tie. 

'If the TV presenter is likely to be wearing a tie, it makes sense to wear a tie.'