Katy Balls Katy Balls

How much trouble is Keir Starmer in?

(Getty images)

Ahead of Thursday’s local elections, there had been talk among MPs that it could serve as a referendum on partygate and lead to questions about Boris Johnson’s future as leader. Instead, it’s Keir Starmer who is facing questions about Covid breaches and how long he will stay in post. After Durham Police announced on Friday that they would investigate the so-called Beergate event – when he was pictured drinking a beer indoors in Durham with Labour staff last April while the rest of England was under stage 2 Covid rules – new details have come to light.

This taps into a worry among some Tory MPs and ministers that Starmer could actually resign

Over the weekend, the Mail on Sunday published a memo suggesting the takeaway was pre-planned and Starmer did not return to work afterwards. Further accounts have emerged of the evening alleging junior staffers were drunk at the so-called work event. In a sign that this is at the very least derailing Starmer’s agenda – and any efforts to capitalise on the gains his party made on Thursday – the Labour leader has pulled out of a public speaking engagement today. Starmer has been due to speak at an Institute for Government event ahead of tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech. Given that event was meant to include a Q&A, the likelihood of Starmer being able to stay on message was unlikely. 

As for Starmer’s party, he has so far received a mixed bag of support. Members of the shadow cabinet are suggesting he has done nothing wrong and should not resign even if fined. London Mayor Sadiq Khan – speaking to Politico from New York – has adopted a similar stance, suggesting Starmer should be judged differently given unlike Boris Johnson he didn’t actually make the rules (even if he did vote for them and at times criticise the government for not going further).

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