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Opposition leader Keir Starmer
Photo: Yui Mok/AP
The leader of the British opposition party, Keir Starmer, has announced his resignation if he is fined for allegedly violating the corona rules.
Starmer said at a press conference on Monday, "If the police fined me, then of course I would do the right thing and resign." But he reiterated, "No laws were broken."
Starmer met with his party staff at a campaign office in Durham, north-east England, in April 2021.
After the meeting, a video surfaced showing the Labor leader drinking beer and eating with staff.
Starmer then argued that the meeting did not violate the rules for indoor gatherings because he was working.
Police had investigated the event involving Starmer in April 2021 but had concluded that "no criminal offense was found".
In the past few days, however, they have received “important new information”, the police said on Friday and announced that the investigation would be resumed.
Former prosecutor Starmer had repeatedly asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign because of his violations of corona rules.
The conservative prime minister is under a lot of pressure in the lower house because of corona parties in his official residence on London's Downing Street during lockdown times and possible lies about it.
Johnson has already had to pay a fine and further investigations are ongoing.
kim/dpa/AFP