Daily Mail

Why won’t Keir tell truth on Beergate?

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IT was hardly the most difficult question to answer.

Sir Keir Starmer hadn’t been asked to explain the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics or, dare we say it, even what a woman is – one we know he struggles with.

BBC Radio had simply invited him to reveal whether Durham Constabula­ry had contacted his office over Beergate. Yes or no? Instead of candour, Labour’s leader squirmed like a speared eel.

Ten times he refused to set the record straight about the police. He pretended accusation­s of lockdown breaches were just Tory mud-throwing. Each time he repeated his stock ‘nothing-to-see-here’ response, he looked guiltier and guiltier.

Dripping with sanctimony, Sir Keir insists Boris Johnson come clean about No10’s alleged rule-breaking. But when will he tell the truth about the Durham beer and curry event he enjoyed with Labour campaigner­s which possibly broke Covid restrictio­ns?

Thanks to the Mail, the public now knows Sir Keir, from his supposed moral high ground, has been dissemblin­g furiously.

His office initially denied deputy leader Angela Rayner was at the bash. That was a lie. He said he ordered takeaway because food wasn’t available at his hotel. That was a lie too. How many people were there? What work did they do once they’d drained their beer after 10pm? He won’t say.

Sir Keir insists there is ‘no comparison’ to Mr Johnson’s fine for receiving a birthday cake between meetings. The evidence suggests otherwise. So it’s indefensib­le Durham police hasn’t reopened its investigat­ion. As things stand, the PM is being held to a far harsher legal standard.

Of course, we understand Sir Keir’s evasion. Being caught red-handed is not a good look for a QC, the Leader of the Opposition or an aspirant prime minister.

But this scandal won’t go away. He demanded the strictest interpreta­tion of the rules for Mr Johnson. Now the boot is on the other foot, treating him any differentl­y would be brass-necked hypocrisy.

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