Durham Police should reopen investigation into Sir Keir Starmer lockdown beers footage, minister says | UK News
Durham Police should reopen the investigation into whether Sir Keir Starmer broke coronavirus laws, a minister has said.
The Labor leader has been under pressure since footage emerged of him drinking beer with co-workers at a time of regulatory restrictions.
Speaking on Sky News, International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said officers should “review the matter” with “all new evidence” being presented.
She added that if police were “considering that a fixed penalty notice should be given it would clearly be the tool available to them to do so”.
But Ms. Trevelyan said Sir Keir should not have stepped down as Labor leader if he were given a fixed penalty notice, adding: “I don’t think it was an incident. I don’t think I am. don’t do. I personally think it’s a matter of resignation.”
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“I understand that there is some work going on and I strongly encourage them to look into it,” Ms Trevelyan told Sky News.
She added: “I would like sheriff Durham to look at things and – if they feel a fixed penalty notice is the appropriate statement of concluding it’s the same way the Metropolitan Police have been here for With some people on Downing Street at events deemed inappropriate, what I would like to see is that same fixed penalty notice.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of resignation for anyone.”
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Sir Keir Starmer called accusations from some Tories that he attended a party while locked down to simply ‘throwing mud’.
Starmer accuses Tory MPs of ‘hit the mud’
In Monday, Sir Keir accused Conservative MPs of ‘criminal’ through the video he drinks beer with other people in the office at the time COVID limitations
He told broadcasters that the pictures in the photos were working and paused to enjoy some food and that “there are no rules to be broken”.
At that time, people in England It is forbidden to enter the house outside of work.
He added that there was a stark contrast between the incident and the behavior in Downing Street, which is “the most penalized workplace in the whole of the UK”.
In recent days, Sir Keir has come under increased pressure over the event – where he was caught on camera drinking beer with activists in the Durham constituency office of local MP Mary Foy in the race to the Hartlepool by-election
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Sir Keir Starmer has called for the Prime Minister to resign over the Downing Street partying scandal
‘We worked’
Last week, the Labor Party confirmed their deputy leader Angela Rayner also attended, having previously told journalists she was not present at the meeting last April when the coronavirus restrictions went into effect.
But a party source said it was a “mistake made in good faith” and Mr. Keir asserted it “makes absolutely no difference” as there are no rules to be broken.
When challenged on the issue on Monday, the Labor leader told reporters: “We’re working. It’s the days before the election. We pause to get something to eat.
“There’s no party, no rules to be broken. I can’t add anything to it.”
Asked if he wanted to ask more questions to explain, the Labor leader continued: “There is no party, no violation of the rules.
“With a few days until the election, I know what’s going on here – the Tories are trying to talk about anything other than the cost of living, as hard as they can.
“If they put the most energy and focus the most on people’s bills and the taxes they’re putting on people, millions of people would be grateful for that.
“So I think this is classic two or three days before the election from the Tories.
“But I have nothing to add.”
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Boris Johnson said he was confident he would remain in office in October when he was questioned by reporters during a press conference in India.
Labor dismisses Downing Street comparison
Richard Holden, the Conservative MP for North West Durham, has pressed the police to reconsider their decision not to investigate the following incident. fines are issued to Mr Johnson for attending a birthday gathering at No 10.
But Labor has denied that there is any equivalent to Downing Street partying scandalThis has shaken the government.
Durham Police confirmed they have received “several other communications” to which they will respond, but said they are not currently investigating the matter.
The Metropolitan Police’s investigation into Lockdown parties are held on Downing Street and Whitehall is still going on.
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All you need to know about the partygate investigation
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Last month, the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mr Johnson’s wife Carrie Johnson were all notified of flat fines for attending an event to mark the prime minister’s 56th birthday.
The prime minister, who has faced persistent calls to step down for the sake of running the party, is said to have been present at more than 12 events being investigated by Scotland Yard.
Met Police said it will not release any more partygate updates ahead of local elections in May.
