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Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott | Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott |
(about 3 hours later) | |
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Watch: Footage shows Sir Keir Starmer drinking beer with colleagues in Durham on 30 April 2021 | Watch: Footage shows Sir Keir Starmer drinking beer with colleagues in Durham on 30 April 2021 |
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says Sir Keir Starmer should consider his position as Labour leader if he is fined for breaking Covid laws. | Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says Sir Keir Starmer should consider his position as Labour leader if he is fined for breaking Covid laws. |
Durham police are investigating whether rules were broken at an event in the city last year where he was pictured drinking beer in an MP's office. | Durham police are investigating whether rules were broken at an event in the city last year where he was pictured drinking beer in an MP's office. |
Labour MP Ms Abbott insisted she didn't think he would be fined, and criticised "hype built up by the Tory press". | Labour MP Ms Abbott insisted she didn't think he would be fined, and criticised "hype built up by the Tory press". |
Sir Keir said he was confident he had not broken any rules. | Sir Keir said he was confident he had not broken any rules. |
Asked whether he would resign if fined, he told reporters on Saturday: "I was working in the office. We stopped for something to eat. There was no party". | Asked whether he would resign if fined, he told reporters on Saturday: "I was working in the office. We stopped for something to eat. There was no party". |
He added he would lead Labour into the next general election. | He added he would lead Labour into the next general election. |
But Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi accused Sir Keir of hypocrisy, given his previous calls for Boris Johnson to resign over lockdown parties in No 10. | But Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi accused Sir Keir of hypocrisy, given his previous calls for Boris Johnson to resign over lockdown parties in No 10. |
Starmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach | Starmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach |
Rayner was at lockdown event with Starmer | Rayner was at lockdown event with Starmer |
Keir Starmer's Durham drink - what were the rules? | Keir Starmer's Durham drink - what were the rules? |
Sir Keir was filmed drinking a bottle of beer in the constituency office of Durham MP Mary Foy in April last year, in the run-up to a by-election in nearby Hartlepool. | Sir Keir was filmed drinking a bottle of beer in the constituency office of Durham MP Mary Foy in April last year, in the run-up to a by-election in nearby Hartlepool. |
Under rules in place at the time, it was illegal for people in England to socialise indoors with people from outside their household or support bubble. | Under rules in place at the time, it was illegal for people in England to socialise indoors with people from outside their household or support bubble. |
Durham police initially decided no offence had occurred after reviewing footage from the gathering earlier this year. | Durham police initially decided no offence had occurred after reviewing footage from the gathering earlier this year. |
But after Thursday's local elections concluded, the force announced it would launch an investigation after receiving "significant new information". | But after Thursday's local elections concluded, the force announced it would launch an investigation after receiving "significant new information". |
The force had been coming under pressure to revisit the matter after Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined for attending a birthday party for the prime minister in Downing Street in June 2020. | The force had been coming under pressure to revisit the matter after Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined for attending a birthday party for the prime minister in Downing Street in June 2020. |
Conservative MPs and cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan had also been calling for the force to launch a formal probe in recent days. | Conservative MPs and cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan had also been calling for the force to launch a formal probe in recent days. |
'Leaked memo' | |
Meanwhile, the Mail on Sunday published what it said was a leaked memo that appeared to show how an hour and twenty minutes were scheduled for "dinner" - after which the Durham visit would conclude. | |
The planning document, drawn up by Sir Keir's office, said a takeaway order would be placed from a nearby Indian restaurant for a meal between 20:40 and 22:00. | |
Describing the meal earlier this week, Sir Keir said that "at various points people went through to the kitchen, got a plate, had something to eat, and got on with their work". He has also previously insisted he returned to work afterwards. | |
A Labour spokesperson said he had had eaten "between work demands" and no rules had been broken. | |
And a party source added that it would be "wrong to assume" activities during the visit occurred at the times originally planned. | |
Sir Keir previously insisted he returned to work after eating dinner during campaigning | |
Last week, Labour said Angela Rayner was also at the event, after previously denying she was there. It blamed a "mistake" in communication. | |
Questioned about the prospect of Sir Keir being fined on LBC radio, Ms Abbott said: "I don't think he will - I think this is a lot of hype built up by the Tory press. | Questioned about the prospect of Sir Keir being fined on LBC radio, Ms Abbott said: "I don't think he will - I think this is a lot of hype built up by the Tory press. |
"But if he were to get a fixed penalty notice, he would have to consider his position," added the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, who served as shadow home secretary under former leader Jeremy Corbyn. | "But if he were to get a fixed penalty notice, he would have to consider his position," added the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, who served as shadow home secretary under former leader Jeremy Corbyn. |
"I'm a loyal supporter of Keir Starmer. I'm just making the common-sense point that if he gets a fixed penalty notice he should consider his position." | "I'm a loyal supporter of Keir Starmer. I'm just making the common-sense point that if he gets a fixed penalty notice he should consider his position." |
'Hypocrisy' | 'Hypocrisy' |
Sir Keir has called on Mr Johnson to resign since January, when the prime minister became embroiled in accusations Covid rules were broken during gatherings held in Whitehall during lockdown. | Sir Keir has called on Mr Johnson to resign since January, when the prime minister became embroiled in accusations Covid rules were broken during gatherings held in Whitehall during lockdown. |
Metropolitan Police are continuing their investigation into 12 gatherings held in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during 2020 and 2021. | Metropolitan Police are continuing their investigation into 12 gatherings held in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during 2020 and 2021. |
Asked what Sir Keir should do if he is fined, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio: "We've got to let the police carry out their investigation and that's only right and responsible. | Asked what Sir Keir should do if he is fined, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio: "We've got to let the police carry out their investigation and that's only right and responsible. |
"I do think, though, that the public will be uncomfortable with the hypocrisy. | "I do think, though, that the public will be uncomfortable with the hypocrisy. |
"He has tweeted himself saying that if you're under investigation, a criminal investigation, then you should resign." | "He has tweeted himself saying that if you're under investigation, a criminal investigation, then you should resign." |