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Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott New questions over Starmer event after memo leaked
(about 8 hours later)
This video can not be played Sir Keir Starmer is facing further questions over whether he broke Covid lockdown rules at an MP's office in Durham, amid reports a leaked Labour memo suggested time was set aside for him to eat dinner with colleagues.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Durham police are investigating last April's event, when the Labour leader had beer and curry with others.
Watch: Footage shows Sir Keir Starmer drinking beer with colleagues in Durham on 30 April 2021 The Mail on Sunday published what it said was a memo showing timings for "dinner", before the visit would end.
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. Sir Keir insists no rules were broken.
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. A Labour spokesperson said he had had eaten "between work demands".
Labour MP Ms Abbott insisted she didn't think he would be fined, and criticised "hype built up by the Tory press". A party source added that it would be "wrong to assume" activities during the visit occurred at the times originally planned.
Sir Keir said he was confident he had not broken any rules. Sir Keir was filmed drinking a bottle of beer in the constituency office of Durham MP Mary Foy last year, in the run-up to a by-election in nearby Hartlepool.
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". The Labour leader has maintained the visit was a work event, and that the food and drink was consumed in between doing work, so was within the rules.
He added he would lead Labour into the next general election. Covid rules in place at the time meant it was illegal for people in England to socialise indoors with people from outside their household or support bubble.
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 breachStarmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach
Rayner was at lockdown event with StarmerRayner 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. But the internal planning document for the Durham trip apparently showed how an hour and twenty minutes were scheduled for "dinner" - after which, the visit would conclude.
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. The memo said a takeaway order would be placed by a member of Sir Keir's office from a nearby Indian restaurant for a meal between 20:40 and 22:00.
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".
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.
'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.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.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. The real reason all this matters is less about what happened a year ago. And rather more about what Sir Keir Starmer has said since.
"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. He has repeatedly expressed his outrage - shared by millions - at the behaviour of the prime minister and others in government in breaking the Covid rules.
"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." And he's repeatedly called for Boris Johnson to resign.
'Hypocrisy' Now his critics say if you get on a moral high horse, it might turn into a bucking bronco if you've broken the rules yourself.
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. Ministers I've spoken to are cock-a-hoop at this latest twist in this long running row about political conduct during Covid.
Metropolitan Police are continuing their investigation into 12 gatherings held in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during 2020 and 2021. The Labour leader finds himself in a very perilous position.
Asked whether he would resign if fined, Sir Keir told reporters on Saturday: "I was working in the office. We stopped for something to eat. There was no party".
He said he would not resign and would lead Labour into the next general election.
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Sir Keir should consider his position as Labour leader if he is fined by police for breaking Covid laws.
Ms Abbott told LBC radio that she didn't think he would be fined, and criticised "hype built up by the Tory press".
But she added that if he did receive a fixed penalty notice, he would have to "consider his position". She insisted she was a "loyal supporter" of Sir Keir's, and was simply making a "common-sense point".
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Watch: Footage shows Sir Keir Starmer drinking beer with colleagues in Durham on 30 April 2021
Durham police had 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".
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 have also been calling for the force to launch a formal probe in recent days.
Sir Keir has urged 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.
The 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."