Durham Police to Investigate Kier Starmer over breaking lockdown rules

I can’t see Starmer saying he’ll resign influencing the Police decision whether to charge/issue fixed penalty notice

What I remain unhappy about is Durham police refusal to investigate Cummings yet investigating Starmer. Cummings clearly breached regulations.

The Met refusal to investigate what we now know to have been a number of breaches, then they will, and Sue Grey’s full report hangs in limbo.
All most unsatisfactory

Germanshepherdsmum

Or could it be a way of influencing the police’s findings? Subtle but very serious for him professionally if the police were to consider that was the game.

I would stake my life on the fact that he wouldn’t do it for that reason. And I don’t say that lightly.

So do I. Cummings shouldn’t have got away with what he did.

Sorry that was to Daisy.

We should have a bit more faith in our Police Force and not assume they are that easily swayed. I am not surprised though that it is the default position for some people.

Germanshepherdsmum

Or could it be a way of influencing the police’s findings? Subtle but very serious for him professionally if the police were to consider that was the game.

In which case the tories, who put immense pressure on the police to reopen this case, would be hoist with their own petard, wouldn't they?

I actually think that you're being rather slanderous about our upright, honest and apolitical constabulary..

I'm unhappy about the Cummings case, too. Particularly as they took his 'rose garden statement' as his evidence, instead of interviewing him and he subsequently admitted that he lied in it...

But I'm not sure much would be gained by reopening it.

This is straight out of the Tony Blair playbook - during the cash for honours scandal there was a strong possibility he would be interviewed by the police under caution. He let it be known that he would have to resign if this happened - and hey presto the interview under caution never happened. Starmer is a lawyer - there is no way he doesn't know what pressure he is putting Durham police under with his resignation statement. Dirty tactics - and he calls himself honourable...

And then there was the time when he agreed to help get someone beaten up. Oh, sorry, thinking of the wrong party leader

Starmer has no choice but to resign if he is found to have broken the rules. If he doesn’t then he is immersing himself the same amoral cesspit as the PM and I am clinging on to the hope that Starmer wants to be seen as decent human being.

Durham PCC is Labour through and through.

Germanshepherdsmum

So do I. Cummings shouldn’t have got away with what he did.

I was looking for something earlier today when an article came up saying that had Cummings been dealt with appropriately, we would not be going through what we are now. Who knows, but it was an interesting thought.

Surely it’s grandstanding for Starmer and Rayner to say they’d resign if they get a fine as they know they’re not getting one. I’m sure Lord Falconer has reassured them on this matter.

GrannyGravy13

Durham PCC is Labour through and through.

Very telling GG13.

Saetana

This is straight out of the Tony Blair playbook - during the cash for honours scandal there was a strong possibility he would be interviewed by the police under caution. He let it be known that he would have to resign if this happened - and hey presto the interview under caution never happened. Starmer is a lawyer - there is no way he doesn't know what pressure he is putting Durham police under with his resignation statement. Dirty tactics - and he calls himself honourable...

I don't think he has any intention of bringing pressure on the police. I feel sorry for you that you have to live with such extreme cynicism. The police can only continue; he did not pre-empt their decision as you seem to be suggesting.

There is nothing that he has done wrong. He and those working with him stopped to eat. That was allowed. There has been a Tory attack team in Durham persuading people to complain. The Sky reporter has just mentioned it, calling them a "very effective team". If that is true I do hope the police look into that too. I don't know if bringing political pressure on the police is a crime but it should be.

I do think this will put pressure on the Far-Right party we have in power and I can imagine the letters going in, even as we speak.

You just keep saying these things Saetana. The Tory whips are reigning in the MPs so we might miss hearing the normal Tory make believe.

Well!

I knew there was something fishy about the 3rd year Durham Student who shot that bit of video.

He is the son of far right writer/journalist James Delingpole.

What a coincidence that he just 'happened to spot' from a distance I know for a fact that it would be impossible to see what was happening inside the Durham Miner's Hall, Keir Starmer holding a bottle of beer beside a window.

This story has been utter bollocks from beginning to end..

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/09/revealed-student-ivo-delingpole-james-breitbart-beergate-video-that-threatens-to-sink-starmer

Urmstongran

GrannyGravy13

Durham PCC is Labour through and through.

Very telling GG13.

So, why did it let off Cummings and not reopen his case when he told MPs that he'd lied about his little trip?

Because by then Durham police knew Cummings hated Boris with a vengeance?

Of course Starmer was never going to be fined.

This was only ever a stunt thought up by the DM and the oddball Tory mp.

It has simply backfired.

It has however got us all talking about a storm in a tiny teacup as opposed to the dreadful election results for the Tories, the major cost of living crises, the fact that the Tories are devoid of any plan, and a coward and moral vacuum for a leader.

Urmstongran

Because by then Durham police knew Cummings hated Boris with a vengeance?

What you are saying is suggesting that the police are politicised.

Apparently Durham police will not issue retrospective fines - assuming they stick to that policy then, even if they find Starmer and co guilty of breaking the rules, there will be no fine. He worded his statement very carefully - only saying he would resign if he is fined, never mind that he was calling for Boris to resign just because he was under criminal investigation even before any fines had been issued. Well Sir Keir is now under criminal investigation himself - hope he is enjoying being hoist on his own petard.

They did not "stop to eat" - they ate and drank and then went back to their hotels/homes. This was not a work break, it was a social gathering at the end of a working day - no problem under normal circumstances but it did break covid rules at the time.

Whitewavemmark2 there have been numerous posts over multiple threads suggesting that the Met is politicised over the last couple of years…

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemmark2 there have been numerous posts over multiple threads suggesting that the Met is politicised over the last couple of years…

Yes I know - it is extremely worrying.

Still, good to hear that Starmer has made the honourable decision. My faith in his integrity and moral standing has not been shaken.

Q. What’s it like being a Johnson supporter??

Urmstongran

Because by then Durham police knew Cummings hated Boris with a vengeance?

That is so stupid it's not worth answering.