Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer 'confident' that 'beergate' didn't breach lockdown rules

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "confident" that he did not breach lockdown rules after he was pictured having a beer and curry at a campaign event last year. The Labour leader spoke out after Durham Constabulary confirmed it was investigating claims an evening event attended by Sir Keir with other senior party figures and activists might have broken coronavirus social distancing regulations, the PA News Agency reports.

Speaking today (May 7) he said: "As I have explained a number of times, I was working in the office, we stopped for something to eat. There was no party, no breach of rules, I am confident of that."

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A leaked memo published by the Mail on Sunday indicated that the dinner in Durham had been planned on the schedule for Sir Keir’s day of campaigning in April 2021.

The document states that there would be a "dinner in Miners Hall" with City of Durham MP Mary Foy from 8.40pm to 10pm – and a note indicates a member of staff in Sir Keir’s office was to arrange the takeaway curry from the Spice Lounge.

A spokesman for the Leader of the Opposition’s office said: "Keir was working, a takeaway was made available in the kitchen, and he ate between work demands. No rules were broken." Timings for events frequently slip during a campaign and on the day of the curry the takeaway was late, a source said.

Speaking during a visit to Scotland, the Labour leader said: "The police have obviously got to do their job but meanwhile I am here in Scotland because we have had a fantastic set of results."

He also said that while he has called for Prime Minster Boris Johnson to quit after he was fined for attending a party at Westminster during