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| New questions over Starmer event after memo leaked | New questions over Starmer event after memo leaked |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Durham police are investigating last April's event, when the Labour leader had beer and curry with others. | Durham police are investigating last April's event, when the Labour leader had beer and curry with others. |
| The Mail on Sunday published what it said was a memo showing timings for "dinner", before the visit would end. | The Mail on Sunday published what it said was a memo showing timings for "dinner", before the visit would end. |
| Sir Keir insists no rules were broken. | Sir Keir insists no rules were broken. |
| A Labour spokesperson said he had eaten "between work demands". | |
| A party source added that it would be "wrong to assume" activities during the visit occurred at the times originally planned. | A party source added that it would be "wrong to assume" activities during the visit occurred at the times originally planned. |
| Starmer investigated over alleged lockdown breach | |
| Rayner was at lockdown event with Starmer | |
| 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 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 last year, in the run-up to a by-election in nearby Hartlepool. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| And he's repeatedly called for Boris Johnson to resign. | And he's repeatedly called for Boris Johnson to resign. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ministers I've spoken to are cock-a-hoop at this latest twist in this long running row about political conduct during Covid. | Ministers I've spoken to are cock-a-hoop at this latest twist in this long running row about political conduct during Covid. |
| The Labour leader finds himself in a very perilous position. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". | 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". |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| 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 |
| Durham police had initially decided no offence had occurred after reviewing footage from the gathering earlier this year. | 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". | 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 have also been calling for the force to launch a formal probe in recent days. | 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. | 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. | 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." |