The Beergate investigation, into allegations that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer broke Covid rules, cost a police force more than £100,000 - and used nine major crime detectives. Durham Constabulary's probe involved 3,200 hours of work using detectives usually employed on murder and sex assault cases, it has been reported by National World.
The Labour leader had been captured with a beer and Indian takeaway in Durham on April 30, 2021, whilst on the campaign trail for a forthcoming Hartlepool by-election. Starmer's team insisted he and other attendees - including deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner - had stopped to eat while working, and that Covid rules had never been broken.
All were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in July 2022 following an investigation by Durham Constabulary. The force had reopened the case in May 2022 after coming under significant political pressure.
