This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/61334893
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Keir Starmer's Durham drink - what were the rules? | Keir Starmer's Durham drink - what were the rules? |
| (8 months later) | |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner have both been cleared of breaking Covid rules at a gathering on 30 April 2021 in Durham. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner have both been cleared of breaking Covid rules at a gathering on 30 April 2021 in Durham. |
| Police said in a statement: "Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken." | Police said in a statement: "Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken." |
| Sir Keir, who was pictured through a window holding a bottle, and Ms Rayner had both said they would resign if they were fined. | Sir Keir, who was pictured through a window holding a bottle, and Ms Rayner had both said they would resign if they were fined. |
| The Labour leader responded to the police decision saying: "I've always said that no rules were broken when I was in Durham. The police have now completed their investigation and found that there is no case to answer." | The Labour leader responded to the police decision saying: "I've always said that no rules were broken when I was in Durham. The police have now completed their investigation and found that there is no case to answer." |
| Ms Rayner tweeted: "Integrity matters in politics. The contrast with the behaviour of this disgraced Prime Minister couldn't be clearer." | Ms Rayner tweeted: "Integrity matters in politics. The contrast with the behaviour of this disgraced Prime Minister couldn't be clearer." |
| Starmer and Rayner cleared over 'beergate' meeting | Starmer and Rayner cleared over 'beergate' meeting |
| Labour's Starmer and Rayner sent police questionnaires over lockdown drinks | Labour's Starmer and Rayner sent police questionnaires over lockdown drinks |
| Sir Keir Starmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach | Sir Keir Starmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach |
| What happened? | What happened? |
| The picture of the Labour leader was taken in the run-up to the 6 May Hartlepool by-election in the office of City of Durham MP Mary Foy - inside Durham Miners' Hall. | The picture of the Labour leader was taken in the run-up to the 6 May Hartlepool by-election in the office of City of Durham MP Mary Foy - inside Durham Miners' Hall. |
| He can be seen with a bottle while colleagues can be seen in the background with plates. | He can be seen with a bottle while colleagues can be seen in the background with plates. |
| Sir Keir has explained that a takeaway was ordered for the people working in the office. | Sir Keir has explained that a takeaway was ordered for the people working in the office. |
| "All restaurants and pubs were closed so takeaways were really the only way you could eat," he told Good Morning Britain. | "All restaurants and pubs were closed so takeaways were really the only way you could eat," he told Good Morning Britain. |
| "So this was brought in and at various points people went through to the kitchen, got a plate and had something to eat." | "So this was brought in and at various points people went through to the kitchen, got a plate and had something to eat." |
| What were the rules at the time? | What were the rules at the time? |
| On 30 April, England was under "Step 2" rules, which had been introduced on 12 April. | On 30 April, England was under "Step 2" rules, which had been introduced on 12 April. |
| Gathering indoors with people from outside your household or support bubble was against the law. | Gathering indoors with people from outside your household or support bubble was against the law. |
| There was an exemption for "work purposes", although working from home was recommended in the guidance, but the rules did not mention socialising at work. | There was an exemption for "work purposes", although working from home was recommended in the guidance, but the rules did not mention socialising at work. |
| And there was an exemption if "the gathering is reasonably necessary for the purposes of campaigning in an election". | And there was an exemption if "the gathering is reasonably necessary for the purposes of campaigning in an election". |
| Bars, pubs and restaurants were allowed to open outdoors for groups of six people or two households, but indoor service was not allowed. | Bars, pubs and restaurants were allowed to open outdoors for groups of six people or two households, but indoor service was not allowed. |
| The question for police was whether Labour officials eating and drinking together was "reasonably necessary for work". | The question for police was whether Labour officials eating and drinking together was "reasonably necessary for work". |
| Downing Street parties: What Covid rules were broken? | Downing Street parties: What Covid rules were broken? |
| What have the police said? | What have the police said? |
| Durham Police reviewed the footage of Keir Starmer in February this year and said it did not believe an offence had been committed. | Durham Police reviewed the footage of Keir Starmer in February this year and said it did not believe an offence had been committed. |
| Then on 6 May a spokesperson said: "Following the receipt of significant new information over recent days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that position." | Then on 6 May a spokesperson said: "Following the receipt of significant new information over recent days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that position." |
| And on 8 July Durham Police confirmed their previous conclusion that there was no case to answer, saying: "A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering." | And on 8 July Durham Police confirmed their previous conclusion that there was no case to answer, saying: "A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering." |
| Was Angela Rayner there? | Was Angela Rayner there? |
| Labour initially said that its deputy leader Angela Rayner had not been at the event, but later said that statement was a "mistake" made in "good faith". | Labour initially said that its deputy leader Angela Rayner had not been at the event, but later said that statement was a "mistake" made in "good faith". |
| A spokesperson told the BBC there was no reason to conceal Ms Rayner's attendance, as no lockdown rules had been broken. | A spokesperson told the BBC there was no reason to conceal Ms Rayner's attendance, as no lockdown rules had been broken. |
| What was the guidance? | What was the guidance? |
| In addition to the legal restrictions, the government issued guidance for workplaces. | In addition to the legal restrictions, the government issued guidance for workplaces. |
| The guidance on gathering at work at the time was that people should only meet in person at work if it was reasonably necessary to do so, and that they should maintain social distancing. | The guidance on gathering at work at the time was that people should only meet in person at work if it was reasonably necessary to do so, and that they should maintain social distancing. |
| That meant staying two metres apart if possible, or one metre apart with other measures being taken to reduce risk. | That meant staying two metres apart if possible, or one metre apart with other measures being taken to reduce risk. |
| It also recommended holding meetings outdoors when possible, and using ventilation such as air conditioning and open doors and windows, if meetings had to be indoors. The guidance did not mention alcohol. | It also recommended holding meetings outdoors when possible, and using ventilation such as air conditioning and open doors and windows, if meetings had to be indoors. The guidance did not mention alcohol. |
| Was there guidance for campaigning? | Was there guidance for campaigning? |
| The government issued extra guidance for campaigning ahead of the May 2021 elections. | The government issued extra guidance for campaigning ahead of the May 2021 elections. |
| It said that while it was "essential that campaigning be allowed in the run-up to the polls" on 6 May, "all campaigning activity will need to follow the relevant rules on gatherings and social distancing". | It said that while it was "essential that campaigning be allowed in the run-up to the polls" on 6 May, "all campaigning activity will need to follow the relevant rules on gatherings and social distancing". |
| It also recommended: "You should not meet with other campaigners indoors." | It also recommended: "You should not meet with other campaigners indoors." |
| What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch | What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Related Topics | |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | |
| Keir Starmer | |
| Reality Check | |
| Labour Party |