Keir Starmer to be investigated by police over beer and curry lockdown meeting

The Labour chief will reportedly be probed by police over an indoor assembly throughout which meals and alcohol have been served in lockdown (Image: Getty)

Sir Keir Starmer will likely be investigated by the police over an alleged lockdown guidelines breach.

The Labour chief has been dealing with mounting questions over footage of him consuming a beer with colleagues throughout an April 2021 by-election marketing campaign.

Durham Constabulary have beforehand reviewed the incident and determined there was no case to reply however have seemingly reversed their place.

The drive has been publicly pressured by senior Tories to reopen a probe into the occasion and has now confirmed a probe is underneath manner.

A spokesperson mentioned: ‘Earlier this yr, Durham Constabulary carried out an evaluation as as to whether Covid-19 laws had been breached at a gathering in Durham Metropolis on April 30, 2021.

‘At the moment, it was concluded that no offence had been established and due to this fact no additional motion can be taken.

‘Following the receipt of serious new data over latest days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that place and now, following the conclusion of the pre-election interval, we will affirm that an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 laws referring to this gathering is now being performed.’

The Labour chief was pictured indoors consuming and consuming throughout a by-election marketing campaign

Sir Keir has described focus from opponents on the image as ‘mudslinging’ and insisted no guidelines have been damaged.

On the time of the gathering, non-essential retail and outside venues together with pub gardens have been open however social distancing guidelines, which included a ban on indoor mixing between households, remained in place.

Earlier this week he mentioned he had not acquired any contact from the drive.

Requested what he was doing at 11pm in Durham on the evening in query, and if he went again to work having eaten, he mentioned: ‘We have been working, we stopped, we ate. 

‘No breach of the principles. No social gathering. And I feel that’s sufficient for the mudslinging from the Tories on this.’

The assembly happened at Durham Miners’ Corridor throughout a by-election in Hartlepool.

A number of different MPs, together with deputy chief Angela Rayner and Metropolis of Durham MP Mary Foy, have been additionally in attendance. 

The event was initially reported by the Telegraph and has not be confirmed.

Any police investigation can be very uncomfortable for the Labour chief, who has repeatedly referred to as on the prime minister to resign for his rule breach (Image: Reuters)

Metro.co.uk has contacted Durham Constabulary for remark.

The partygate fallout might quickly resume for Boris Johnson now that the native elections are over.

The Metropolitan Police beforehand mentioned it might not problem any additional mounted penalty notices till the marketing campaign was over.

A number of occasions the prime minister attended are nonetheless underneath investigation by the drive.

Tory leaders have admitted the scandal damage the social gathering on the doorstep throughout a ballot which noticed them lose dozen of seats and flagship native authorities.

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