Sir Keir Starmer said he would do “the right thing" and step down as Labour leader if he is fined by police over claims that he broke coronavirus laws by having a takeaway and a beer in Durham last year. In a televised statement this afternoon, the party leader repeatedly denied breaching any rules.
Sir Keir accused the Conservatives accusing him of breaking lockdown rules of “trying to feed cynicism to get the public to believe all politicians are the same”. Speaking from Labour’s London headquarters, he said: “I believe in honour, integrity and the principle that those who make the laws must follow them and I believe that politicians who undermine that principle, undermine trust in politics, undermine our democracy and undermine Britain."
The Labour leader said laws "were followed at all times" and explained that he "simply had something to eat while working late in the evening as any politician would do days before an election". However, he added: "If the police decide to issue me with a fixed-penalty notice I would, of course, do the right thing and step down.”
