Police are set to re-investigate Keir Starmer over “beergate” lockdown allegations.
Durham Constabulary had previously said they did not believe the Labour leader had breached coronavirus rules when he and colleagues drank beer and had a takeaway curry in April 2021, when most indoor social gatherings were banned.
Starmer was filmed drinking a bottle of beer with colleagues in the Durham office of Mary Foy, the local Labour MP, on the night of April 30 last year in the run up to the Hartlepool by-election.
Starmer, a former director of Public Prosecutions, insisted it was not a breach of the regulations because it was simply a meal break during a work event.
Repeated pressure from Conservative MPs and newspapers to divert from Boris Johnson’s partygate breaches in Downing Street appear to have made the force reconsider.
The revelation that deputy leader Angela Rayner was present at the event, despite initial denials by the Labour Party, led to fresh questions over the gathering.
In a statement Durham Police said they would begin the investigation into the potential lockdown breaches after receiving “significant new information”.
The force said: “Earlier this year, Durham Constabulary carried out an assessment as to whether Covid-19 regulations had been breached at a gathering in Durham City on April 30 2021. At that time, it was concluded that no offence had been established and therefore no further action would be taken.
“Following the receipt of significant new information over recent days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that position and now, following the conclusion of the pre-election period, we can confirm that an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations relating to this gathering is now being conducted.”
The Labour Party said they were happy to answer any questions the police had and stated again that they were clear no rules were broken.
Even if Starmer is found to have breached the coronavirus regulations, it is unlikely he will receive a fixed penalty notice as Durham Constabulary does not issue fines retrospectively.
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