Tories: Give police time and space to probe ‘beergate'

DETECTIVES investigating Sir Keir Starmer over beergate should be given the time and space to complete their inquiry, policing minister Kit Malthouse said today.

- David Bond

As Westminster was gripped by the Labour leader's huge gamble to place his future in the hands of Durham Police, some Tory MPs accused Sir Keir of pressuring the investigation by vowing to quit if he is fined for breaking Covid laws.

Labour said they were confident Sir Keir would not be given a fixed penalty notice for attending a campaign event in Durham in April last year where he had a takeaway curry and beer with party colleagues, including the deputy leader Angela Rayner.

Sir Keir has insisted he was working and broke off to have a meal and a drink but in a dramatic statement yesterday said he would stand down if he was fined for breaking lockdown laws.

Mr Malthouse said he could not be drawn on whether Sir Keir - a former Director of Public Prosecutions - was right to say he would go if he was found to have broken the law.