‘Starmer should quit even if he’s not fined’

TWO-THIRDS of voters say Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer must resign if a police inquiry concludes he broke lockdown rules – regardless of whether he receives a fine.

Sir Keir has said he will stand down if Durham police impose a fixed penalty notice for attending a gathering in April last year where Labour activists enjoyed beer and curry.

But a poll bytechne for the Sunday Express found 66 per cent of voters agreed he should quit “if the police conclude he broke lockdown rules even if he is not fined”.

Just 21 per cent said they disagreed, with 13 per cent saying they don’t know.

Police are expected to announce their findings in the coming weeks. Labour says activists were having dinner as they campaigned in the Hartlepool by-election and argues this was allowed under lockdown rules.

Sir Keir, pictured, is also under pressure from colleagues who have criticised him for failing to back the rail strikes. Former shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell, who joined a rally organised by the RMT union outside London’s Kings Cross station yesterday, said that he stands in “solidarity” with railway staff.

The left-wing MP said: “I’m saying to Keir Starmer – and other Labour MPS as well – do the right thing.

“If you think RMT have got a justifiable dispute, we should support them.”

And former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott added: “I do not understand the argument that Labour should not be here because we are not meant to pick a side.

“I thought when you join Labour, you are picking a side, on the working class side.”

Sir Keir has ordered frontbench MPS not to join strikers but shadow local transport minister Samtarry was last week with workers on a picket line in London.