Both had vowed to resign if found to have breached regulations during a trip to the city in April 2021 ahead of the Hartlepool by-election. None of those who attended the event, dubbed ‘beergate’, have been fined. Latest politics: ‘Tory ploy’ condemned after Starmer purge This is in stark contrast to the 126 Fixed Penalty Notices issued by the Metropolitan Police for breaches of rules in Downing Street and Whitehall. Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and the then chancellor Rishi Sunak were all fined for attending a birthday gathering for the prime minister in June 2020 when mingling indoors was banned. Responding on Twitter to the outcome of the Durham Police investigation, Sir Keir said: “I’ve always said no rules were broken when I was in Durham. “The police have completed their investigation and agreed: there is no way to answer. “For me, this has always been about principle. Honesty and integrity matter. You will always get that from me.” Mr Rayner wrote in a post: “We have always been clear that no rules were broken at Durham. “The police have completed their investigation and agreed, saying there is no way to answer. “Integrity matters in politics. The contrast to the behavior of this disgraced Prime Minister could not be clearer.”
Sir Keir’s big gamble is paying off
The police investigation hanging over the Labor leader’s head is over: Sir Keir Starmer has been cleared by Durham Police. A beer and curry in Hartlepool was no breach of lockdown and Sir Keir’s big gamble paid off. A week ago, a senior Tory official suggested to me that Boris Johnson would benefit from Labour’s chaos if Sir Kiir was fined by calling a snap election. Now Labor is talking about a vote of no confidence after the collapse of Johnson’s government. What a difference a week makes. Labor MPs say the decision was welcome and expected, but there was a nervousness in the party. Many lamented the irony that partygate could bring down the Labor leader rather than Mr Johnson before it even happened. An ally almost broke down talking to me about the long wait for a decision from Durham Police. Today the wait is over, Sir Keir and Angela Rayner have been saved and any budding leadership ambitions are thwarted for now. Mr Johnson is on the way, Sir Keir can take advantage of Tory disarray and the prospect of a summer of searching for two leaders has been averted. Sir Keir was filmed drinking a bottle of beer over a takeaway curry with colleagues in the offices of Durham MP Mary Foy. It later emerged that Ms Rayner was also at the gathering. At the time, non-essential retail and outdoor spaces, including pubs, were open, but social distancing rules – which included a ban on indoor mixing between households – remained in place. Durham Police initially investigated and found no evidence of foul play, but re-examined the case after Durham North West Tory MP Richard Holden intervened in April. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:41 “I haven’t lost a sleepless night over this” The force said in a statement: “Following the emergence of significant new information, an investigation was launched by Durham Police into a gathering at Miners’ Hall, Redhills, Durham on 30 April 2021. This investigation has now concluded. “A significant amount of documentary evidence and witnesses were obtained that identified the 17 participants and their activities during this gathering. “After applying the evidentiary Full Code Test, it was concluded that there is no case to answer for a breach of the regulations, due to the application of an exception, that is, reasonably necessary work. “Therefore, Durham Police will not be issuing any fixed penalty in relation to the gathering and no further action will be taken. “The investigation was thorough, detailed and proportionate.” A Tory source said: “People in Durham will be surprised to learn they have been allowed to stand around drinking inside after work with people outside their household under the COVID restrictions. “Other forces obviously have a different view. “Of course if Keir Starmer held himself to the standard he demands of others, he would have resigned two months ago.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:54 Starmer: “I would do the right thing” Meanwhile, Ms Foy was “delighted” by the police findings after the “pressure of the last few months”. He said: “I would like to thank the officers for their professionalism and diligence throughout the investigation. “However, it is unfortunate that the desire of some Tory politicians to score political points has taken so much of Durham Police’s time to focus on a matter that has already been investigated, especially when their resources are already under significant strain.” Sir Keir had vowed to do the “right thing” and resign if fined in connection with the gathering. The move was seen as a huge gamble, with Sir Keir putting his future in the hands of Durham Police after it was announced officers would reopen an investigation into the beer-drinking and curry-eating event. The Labor leader has consistently denied the rally was against the rules, claiming he and those present were working, stopped to eat during a break and then returned to their duties. Labor sought to contrast Sir Keir’s actions with those of Boris Johnson, who refused to step down as prime minister after being fined by the Met Police for a rally at Number 10 in June 2020 to celebrate his 56th birthday. The party had expressed confidence that its leader would be cleared, with sources saying they would provide officers with evidence that the Durham rally was a work event.
