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Labor leader Keir Starmer
Photo: Danny Lawson / dpa
Shortly before the regional elections in Great Britain, opposition leader Keir Starmer comes under pressure – the reason: a social gathering during the corona lockdown.
The leader of the Labor Party took part in a campaign trip to Durham in northern England in April last year.
At that time, restaurants were still largely closed due to the pandemic, and there were strict contact restrictions – with exceptions for work meetings.
Recordings of the evening appeared in several British media, and the conservative Daily Mail has been reporting extensively on the so-called “Beergate” incident for days.
Because Starmer can be seen in a convivial atmosphere with a beer in his hand.
The leader of the Labor Party denied breaking the rules in an interview with ITV on Wednesday.
He and his campaign team ordered curry in the office, ate at work and drank a beer.
He referred to a statement from Durham Police, which had previously said it was not investigating the incident.
The police did not contact him either, said the Social Democrat.
Demands came from the conservative ranks for the authority to investigate the matter.
"How much more evidence do you need?" Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson tweeted to police after reports said food had been ordered for 30 people.
Starmer had previously accused the Tory party of a "mud fight" to distract from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's lockdown parties.
He has already had to pay a fine for an illegal celebration, and further investigations are still underway.
The House of Commons recently voted to summon Johnson before a committee of inquiry into the Partygate affair.
The panel is to clarify the question of whether the prime minister lied in parliament about illegal celebrations during the lockdown.
Deliberate deception of Parliament is considered a clear reason for resignation.
as/dpa