Police launch investigation into Keir Starmer 'beergate' allegations following 'significant' new evidence
Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
- Durham Police have launched an investigation into claims Keir Starmer breached COVID rules in "beergate".
- Footage emerged of the Labour leader drinking beer with other members while taking a break from campaigning.
- The force said "significant new information" had come to light in recent days.
Durham Police has launched an investigation into allegations Labour leader Keir Starmer breached COVID rules in what has become dubbed 'beergate'.
The force said Friday it was opening an investigation into a gathering in April 2021, where Starmer was pictured drinking a beer in an office with colleagues, after "significant new information" had come to light.
A statement was issued the day after England's local elections.
It said: "Earlier this year, Durham Constabulary carried out an assessment as to whether Covid-19 regulations had been breached at a gathering in Durham City on April 30 2021. At that time, it was concluded that no offence had been established and therefore no further action would be taken.
"Following the receipt of significant new information over recent days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that position and now, following the conclusion of the pre-election period, we can confirm that an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations relating to this gathering is now being conducted."
Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, has insisted no rules were broken by the event, part of which was filmed by a student at Durham university and shared online.
He told the BBC: "We were working in the office, it was just before elections, we were busy, we paused for food … there was no party, no rules were broken, that is the long and the short of it."
The possibility of receiving a fine is tricky for Starmer, who has called for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to resign after they received fines for attending a lockdown-breaching birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street.
A Labour Party spokesperson told Insider: "We're obviously happy to answer any questions there are and we remain clear that no rules were broken."
from Business Insider https://ift.tt/g8XGpFV
No comments