A very dear beer?

THE news that Durham Police are investigating Keir Starmer’s little supper in Durham last year is a terrible blow for the Labour leader.

Unless the police give him a clean bill of health he will be in a very difficult position.

Sir Keir has – quite rightly – made hay with the disregard Boris Johnson and his Whitehall advisers appeared to pay to the rules, which has already landed the Prime Minister with one fine.

Even if there are more fines for Mr Johnson, the political advantage for Sir Keir will be wiped out if he himself has had to pay one.

It may be that the Durham gathering followed all the rules. But voters will note that Mr Johnson invokes precisely the same argument. That will harden their opinion against the political class in general.

All in all, Sir Keir will be hoping fervently that Durham Police agree with his own view. If they don’t, it’s hard to see how he could stay on.