Durham Police to Investigate Kier Starmer over breaking lockdown rules

Saetana It seems there is evidence that this was a work break. www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/09/labour-says-can-prove-starmer-team-worked-past-1am-beergate-night

We should really say “allegedly” nothing is proven - yet. Lying about it is a resigning offence, Starmer hasn’t, we all get it wrong at times we say sorry, pay the penalty and move on.

Saetana

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.

Nope. Johnson lied to Parliament. That’s the resigning issue

Someone who was there spoke to the Sunday Times - by all means check it out for yourselves.

‘Apparently’ is not fact. I wouldn’t believe a third hand ‘Apparently’. Not a wise thing to do.

Saetana

No I was not there but apparently there is a whistleblower who WAS there - who said that once the food and drink arrived it turned into a social event with people getting tipsy and it never returned to being a work event after that as they all went home. 15 people (approximately) eating and drinking together indoors was against the rules at that time. They do not even have the excuse of being in a work bubble as most of them travelled from other areas to attend. No wonder Starmer has had to self isolate 6 times from covid contacts!

As with the events in Whitehall, I expect more illegal Labour gatherings to come to light over the coming weeks whilst the investigation is taking place. People in glass houses and all that...

You are wrong on a number of points. It really is a good idea to check your facts or you will begin to sound like Johnson?

That’s a bit below the belt given that Keir has had to self isolate twice because his children had covid….

No I was not there but apparently there is a whistleblower who WAS there - who said that once the food and drink arrived it turned into a social event with people getting tipsy and it never returned to being a work event after that as they all went home. 15 people (approximately) eating and drinking together indoors was against the rules at that time. They do not even have the excuse of being in a work bubble as most of them travelled from other areas to attend. No wonder Starmer has had to self isolate 6 times from covid contacts!

As with the events in Whitehall, I expect more illegal Labour gatherings to come to light over the coming weeks whilst the investigation is taking place. People in glass houses and all that...

I don’t think it is a resigning issue, they had refreshments with people they had been working with all day.
It may well be they misinterpreted the rules, so admit you were wrong pay the fine and carry on, if Starmer or anyone else resigns over that there is more to it!.

More comment

Rory Stewart

@Keir_Starmer
deserves real admiration and respect for following through on his statements and principles. His resignation would be a real loss to British politics, but also a real enhancement of our battered public standards. He will emerge with dignity either way.

Richard Murphy

I note
peston
says Tory advisers think ‘it will take a flame thrower’ to get Johnson out of No 10, and any number of fines will not make him go. Whatever happens with Starmer now, clear (and very deep) blue water has been exposed between the anti-democrats in No 10 and Labour

GrannyGravy13

GrannyGravy13

No idea, he lost my support months agon

Sorry that was in reply to WW

My remark was rhetorical. But there is no denying that there are Johnson supporters.

Whitewavemark2

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.

I don't get the impression it was just "the DM and the oddball Tory mp". It sounds as if they put a team in up there. What Starmer didn't do was indeed a storm in a teacup. However, if the Tories have put pressure on the police (they may or may not have), then that needs investigating. Maizie's find about the student just makes me feel it may well be true.

If they did it has backfired by the look of things.

*gung-ho
I ought to proof read instead of listening to Himself calling out ‘bathroom’s free’! My turn for a shower ...

I had quite an amusing afternoon. A group of us were at a friend’s house doing craft things. We got onto politics and it was soon obvious that we all despised Johnson and all he stood for. Until one little voice in the corner piped up, ‘I don’t agree with any of you’.

I don’t think I’m a sorry soul. Unless I’m delusional?
Don’t answer that, please!

Boris has been tremendous in some ways.
And wishy-washy in others.

I’m a bit disillusioned. I’d hoped with an 80 seat majority he’d have shown a more guns-ho attitude to tackling stuff. He’s wasted a great opportunity.

I’ll live.
?

MaizieD

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

Good grief!

Germanshepherdsmum

Are there any Johnson supporters here?

There's Ug

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

You were there. were you Saetana?

Starmer

"This is a matter of principle and honour for me, it's about who I am, what I stand for"

Lisa Nandy

“This is a matter of principle and honour.”

It’s impossible to imagine Boris Johnson saying a single word of this.

Whitewavemark2

Urmstongran

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

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

Hmm.
I think it would be interesting to compare the criterion Starmer was afforded compared to Boris. The Met Police -v- Durham? Oh wait a minute - Boris is a Tory! Same criterion, different politicians.

Are there any Johnson supporters here?

GrannyGravy13

No idea, he lost my support months agon

Sorry that was in reply to WW

No idea, he lost my support months agon

Urmstongran

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.

You are a sorry soul, UG. You put your faith in a man you thought had substance but he was simply full of nothingness.

Take care of yourself. Unwinding from this sort of belief can be traumatic.