Sir Keir Starmer returns questionnaire to police investigating ‘beergate’ episode | Political news
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has returned a questionnaire to police investigating the so-called “merger” episode.
Sir Keir has come under pressure about the events in Durham in April 2021, when he was filmed drinking wine and takeout curry with party colleagues.
He has pledge to resign as party leader if he is issued a fixed penalty notice for violating the COVID rules.
Labour’s deputy team leader Angela Rayner, who was also present at the event, similarly pledged to quit if fined.
Both deny breaking the rules.
A Labor spokesman confirmed that Sir Keir and Ms Rayner’s questionnaire had been returned to the Durham Constabulary.
Sir Keir, who has been heavily criticized for breaking COVID rules in Downing Street, has previously said that “absolutely no law has been breached” in his case.
But he added: “If the police decide to give me a fixed penalty notice, of course I will do the right thing and resign.”
At the time, COVID rules prohibited households from mixing indoors, in addition to working.
Sir Keir said: “I was simply eating something while working late in the evening as any politician would do a few days before an election.”
It precedes the by-election and local elections in Hartlepool.
