Sir Keir Starmer insisted ‘no rules were broken’ as he accused the Tories of ‘trying to throw mud around’ ahead of Thursday’s local elections.
The driver estimated there were ‘probably about 30 or so people’ inside – but he later U-turned on his story. More questions were raised over Beergate tonight after a takeaway driver claimed to have delivered ‘quite a big order’ of four bags of curries, rice and naans to the ‘work meeting’. Mystery over the disappearing delivery of ‘four bags of curry’ The witnesses, who are university students, said the trio and other Labour officials, who were standing in a narrow corridor outside, appeared to be socialising. The pair told the Mail on Sunday yesterday that Sir Keir, local Labour MP Mary Foy and a mystery woman, who may have been Mrs Rayner, were gathered in a narrow kitchen next to Mrs Foy’s office.
Mr Holden also demanded that police interview two students who filmed the video of Sir Keir swigging beer. ‘As many observers – including residents of County Durham – now know, this seems implausible.’ He added that it ‘simply cannot be the case that Keir Starmer returned to work’, or that the drink was ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes’. Mr Holden wrote: ‘Keir Starmer has again repeated his claim that he returned to work after being pictured drinking beer inside after 10pm on the evening in question. Last night he sent a further letter asking officers to look into Sir Keir’s ‘implausible’ account. Richard Holden, the Tory MP for North West Durham, wrote to the force a week ago asking them to reconsider in light of Scotland Yard’s decision to fine the Prime Minister over a breach in Downing Street. In February the force decided not to launch a formal probe after reviewing a video of the event and deciding it did not believe an offence had been ‘established’. The Tories yesterday stepped up their calls for Durham Constabulary to investigate whether Sir Keir was in breach of Covid regulations. The party had initially claimed that Mrs Rayner, the deputy leader, had not been present, but last week it confirmed she was after being presented with video evidence by the Daily Mail.Īppearing on Sky News yesterday, Sir Keir said: ‘It is a genuine mistake and I take responsibility for it.’ Sir Keir was today forced to admit Labour had not told the truth over the Durham gathering. Michael Fabricant, who represents Lichfield for the Conservatives, said: ‘Having first denied that Angela Rayner was present then having to admit that she was, Keir Starmer needs even more to provide some evidence that he did indeed go back to work. Is there anything else they haven’t told us?’ Labour already has admitted they lied about Angela Rayner’s presence.
Why would they not provide evidence for this claim if it is true?’īrendan Clarke-Smith, Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, said: ‘Sir Keir must provide evidence to back up this claim if it is to be believed. Scott Benton, Tory MP for Blackpool South, said: ‘Labour must provide proof that Keir returned to work after his beers at 10pm if they expect people to believe this claim. Sir Keir Starmer insists he did not break Covid rules when he was caught on camera swigging beer with colleagues last year (Stock image) He also estimated there were ‘probably about 30 or so’ people there.īut after the Mail made further enquires with the restaurant, he changed his story to say he had no recollection of making the delivery on April 30. In a further twist, a delivery driver for an Indian restaurant yesterday claimed that he had dropped off ‘quite a big order’ at the hall of ‘about four bags’ of curry, rice and naan bread.
Labour refused to provide any evidence that he really went back to work, saying only that it had nothing to add on the matter. He insists he was working and he and his team had only stopped for a ‘break’ and food before resuming their duties at Durham Miners Hall.īut Tory MPs said it stretched credulity to suggest Sir Keir had carried on working so late when the footage of him drinking beer had been shot at 10.04pm on a Friday night.
The Labour leader says he did not break Covid rules when he was caught on camera swigging beer with colleagues last year. Keir Starmer was told tonight to provide evidence to back up his claims over Beergate.