A senior Labour MP has said it is “ludicrous” to suggest Keir Starmer is avoiding scrutiny on the so-called “beergate” event.
Wes Streeting dismissed any notion that police might find Starmer did break social distancing rules last year after the Labour leader cancelled an appearance that would have seen him questioned on the claims.
Streeting, the shadow health secretary, mounted a passionate defence of the leader after weekend headlines in right-wing newspapers about an event in Durham last year where Starmer has been accused of breaching social distancing rules
Although Durham Police previously said they believed no offence was committed, the case has now been reopened following repeated calls from the Conservative Party.
Starmer had been scheduled to attend an Institute for Government event on Monday but pulled out.
Wes Streeting said he did not know why the decision had been made but said it was “ludicrous” to suggest Starmer was avoiding scrutiny over the issue.
He said he had “no idea” why Starmer cancelled Monday’s appearance, adding:“And I didn’t ask before I came on because I just thought it was such a trivial issue. I do think the idea that Keir has been somehow ducking scrutiny on this is ludicrous, given he has been in front of the cameras repeatedly over the weekend.”
Asked what Starmer would do if he were found to have broken lockdown rules and fined on BBC Breakfast, Streeting replied: “I just don’t think that’s going to happen, I’m not going to entertain that prospect.”
Streeting also mocked the memo published by the Daily Mail over the weekend, which suggested that the meal Starmer was caught eating indoors (with a beer) was planned in advance. This comes after the Labour leader said that the gathering was spontaneous.
The Labour MP replied: “One of the remarkable things about that story in the Mail, was that it was entirely unsurprising and non-revelatory for anyone who has been involved in an election campaign.”
There is still no evidence Starmer broke Covid rules with a beer and a takeaway meal during a campaign visit to Durham last year, he said.
Streeting said it was “reasonable” that Starmer’s dinner in Durham would have been arranged, so the memo does not “contradict anything” that the Labour leader has previously said about beergate.
Streeting claimed: “I don’t understand the controversy and certainly don’t understand the comparison between that and the regular repeated rule-breaking in Downing Street and the lies of the Prime Minister.”
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