Sir Keir Starmer insisted he was “confident that no rules were violated” after it was announced that police would investigate him amid allegations that he had violated blocking rules last year.
The leader of the Labor Party, who has repeatedly called for it Boris Johnson resign for breaking the rules Downing Street – told reporters on Friday night: “Obviously, I understand that the police must do their job, we must allow them to continue this, but I’m sure there were no violations.”
Durham police announced on Friday that it was investigating the allegations after receiving “new significant information”, having previously said it did not believe the crime had been established.
The police turn up after increased pressure on force to revise the allegations after the footage appeared on which the leader Labor drinks beer with up to 30 colleagues in Darem in April 2021 during the campaign for additional elections in Hartlepool.
The Labor leader – on the verge of victory in England after some success in the local elections on Thursday – had previously refused to answer questions from reporters in Carlisle on Friday afternoon after police confirmed they had changed their minds.
A Labor spokesman said: “We are obviously happy to answer any questions and we remain clear that no rules have been broken.”
The police report appears to be timed to coincide with the end of the local election, in which Labor won several significant victories, including gaining control of three London councils.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer arrives at Carlisle Station after an announcement that police will investigate him (Richard McCarthy / Retirement).
(PA wire)
A police statement on Friday afternoon said: “Earlier this year, Durham police conducted an assessment of whether Covid-19 violations were violated at a meeting in Durham City on April 30, 2021.
“At that moment, it was concluded that no violations had been established, so no further action would be taken.
“After receiving significant new information in recent days, a Durham police officer has reconsidered this position, and now, after the election period is over, we can confirm that an investigation into potential Covid-19 violations related to this meeting is ongoing.”
The police did not specify the new information.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer talks to supporters in Barnett, north London, after the party won several key battlefields in the election (Jonathan Brady / PA)
(PA wire)
The accusations against Sir Keira refused to subside on the eve of the election, and this week the Labor leader said he wanted to focus on the cost of living crisis, not the conservative “mud”.
Minor shopping and open spaces, including pubs and gardens, were opened during the alleged collection, but social distancing rules, which included a ban on mixing households on the premises, remained in place.
Sir Keir has repeatedly denied breaking the rules.
In January, he said prime minister “need to do decent things and resign” after he was charged with violating the blocking regime.
His colleague in the opposition, Angela Raynerwho was with Sir Cyrus at a meeting in Durham in April 2021, also questioned Mr Johnson’s suitability as Prime Minister.
She wrote on Twitter: “Downing Street Boris Johnson is under police investigation, how can he think he can stay as prime minister?”
Earlier, Durham police said their “common approach” was not “retrospective action”, including against former Downing Street chief adviser Dominic Cummings for his infamous trip to Barnard Castle to “check eyesight” while the country was closed. mode.
Now the forces have been asked to confirm whether this general approach is maintained.
Earlier, Sir Keir said that no restaurants or pubs were open at the time of the alleged offense, and no food was served at the hotel where he and his colleagues were staying, so “if you didn’t take away food, our team didn’t eat that night.” .
North West Durham Conservative MP Richard Holden said police were doing “exactly right” in investigating possible blocking violations involving Sir Keir.
Mr Holden, who pressured police to investigate after presenting new evidence, said: “It is important that a person who wants to become prime minister meets the same standards as the prime minister and everyone else.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are among those already fined for violating Covid laws.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/boris-johnson-durham-constabulary-prime-minister-downing-street-angela-rayner-b2073316.html
