Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been cleared by Durham Police after an investigation into whether he breached lockdown rules by sharing a beer and curry with party workers in April last year.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has also been cleared – as well as staff who were at the event.
Durham Police said in a statement: “Following the emergence of significant new information, an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary into a gathering at the Miners’ Hall, in Redhills, Durham on 30th April 2021. That investigation has now concluded.
“A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering.
“Following the application of the evidential Full Code Test, it has been concluded that there is no case to answer for a contravention of the regulations, due to the application of an exception, namely reasonably necessary work.
“Accordingly, Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have always been clear that no rules were broken in Durham. The police have completed their investigation and have agreed saying that there is no case to answer.”
Sir Keir had vowed to do the “right thing” and stand down if he was fined in relation to a gathering in Labour offices in Durham ahead of the Hartlepool by-election.
The move was viewed as a huge gamble, with Sir Keir placing his future in the hands of Durham Police after it was announced officers would reopen an investigation into the event where he drank beer and ate curry.
The Labour leader has consistently denied the gathering was against the rules, arguing that he and those present were working, paused to eat food during a break and then returned to their duties.
Labour has sought to contrast Sir Keir’s actions with those of Boris Johnson, who has refused to quit as prime minister after being fined by the Met Police over a gathering in Number 10 in June 2020 to mark his 56th birthday.
The party had expressed confidence that its leader would be cleared, with sources saying they would provide officers with proof that the Durham gathering was a work event.
In his statement, Sir Keir had said he believed in the principle that “those who make the laws must follow them” and that politicians who failed to do so “undermine our democracy”.
He said: “I’m absolutely clear that no laws were broken, they were followed at all times, I simply had something to eat while working late in the evening as any politician would do days before an election.
“But if the police decide to issue me with a fixed penalty notice, I would, of course, do the right thing and step down.”
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