‘Stark contrast’ between beer and fine
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it "makes absolutely no difference" whether deputy Angela Rayner was present when he was seen drinking a beer with party workers during Covid restrictions.
– Sir Keir said there was a "stark contrast" between the gathering in the Durham constituency office of the local MP in April last year and the rule-breaking in Downing Street that has seenborisjohnsonfinedby police.
The Opposition leader was facing renewed scrutiny after Labour acknowledged Ms Rayner was at the event, having previously told journalists she had not been, with a source insisting it was a "mistake made in good faith".
During a visit to Edinburgh, Sir Keir told broadcasters: "Whether Angela Rayner was there or not makes absolutely no difference - there was no breach of the rules, the matter has already been looked into.
"Stark contrast between that and the goings-on at Downing Street where we know there were 50 fines issuedalreadyandaninvestigation still going on – so there's absolutely no comparison to be made here.
"Obviously I do understand, with elections coming, why the Tories are trying to throw as much mud as they possibly can, but the issue that I'm utterly focused on is the cost of living crisis, helping people with their energy bills and calling the Government out for imposing even more tax on people in the middle of a cost of living crisis."
Torympshavebeenpressing police to reconsider their decision not investigate the event following the fineissuedtotheprimeministerforattendinggathering inno10forhis56thbirthday on June 19 2020.