Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner FREE of Beergate fine: Durham Police say Labor leader and deputy ‘have no case to answer’
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner escaped a police fine for their fight in Beergate.
Durham Constabulary found there was ‘no case to answer’ to claims they had broken Covid rules over a boozy curry last April.
They said in a statement: “A significant amount of documentary and witness evidence has been obtained identifying the 17 participants and their activities during that meeting.
‘After application of the evidentiary Full Code Test, it has been concluded that the application of an exception, i.e. reasonably necessary work, is not a reason to justify a violation of the regulations.
“Therefore, Durham Constabulary will not issue any firm fines in relation to the meeting and no further action will be taken.”
Sir Keir and Mrs Rayner returned a questionnaire about Beergate to the police three weeks ago.
Both had promised to resign from the Labor leadership if they were given a fixed fine.
Their pledge had left open the prospect of a Labor leadership contest being held at the same time as the battle to become Boris Johnson’s replacement as Tory leader.
Ms Rayner has previously threatened to force a confidence vote in the government if: Boris Johnson don’t leave number 10 right away.
She called Tory MEPs to ‘get their act together’ and hasten the prime minister’s departure, or a Labor attempt to topple the government if they don’t.
Sir Keir Starmer would have faced the prospect of having to resign if he had been fined by police for his altercation in Beergate
Labor deputy Angela Rayner stepped up party’s threats to call a confidence vote in the House of Commons
Boris Johnson plans to continue as ‘caretaker’ prime minister for the time being, while a new Conservative leader is chosen to succeed him
After seeing large numbers of Tory MPs and ministers desert him in a tumultuous 48-hour period, the prime minister announced his resignation yesterday.
But he plans to continue as ‘Conservative’ Prime Minister for the time being, while a new Conservative leader is chosen to succeed him.
It means Mr Johnson can stay in Downing Street for many more weeks.
This has angered Tory critics who want him to leave immediately – with some touting Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab as an interim replacement.
Labor is now effectively challenging those Tory rebels to take action.
Sir Keir has vowed to table a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons if Mr Johnson doesn’t leave No10 soon.
By convention, the government always accepts a demand from the leader of the opposition for a vote of confidence.
If the government loses a vote on that motion, it could lead to a general election.
Rayner told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘If the Conservatives don’t get their act together and get Boris Johnson out of the way, you know he doesn’t trust his own party.
“He’s a proven liar engulfed in sleaze and we can’t have this for another few months.
“So they have to get rid of him, and if they don’t, we’ll call a vote of no confidence because it’s pretty clear: he doesn’t have the confidence of the House or the British public.”
Despite their efforts to hasten Johnson’s departure as prime minister, Labor risks uniting the Tories if they push through a confidence vote.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, one of those who demanded Johnson’s resignation, has labeled Sir Keir’s plan ‘useless’, insisting the Conservatives are unlikely to overthrow their own government and force a general election. .
He told LBC: “Every time Labor tries to give confidence votes to Conservatives, it forces Conservatives to get behind Boris Johnson.
‘It would be pointless. The last thing the country needs is a general election.”