Panic-stricken Labour braced for 20 staff to be quizzed over Sir Keir Starmer’s lockdown curry

PANIC-stricken Labour chiefs are braced for 20 staff to be quizzed over Sir Keir Starmer’s lockdown curry. Party chiefs fear their “work” defence may be sunk as beers were only bought because the boss was coming, sources say. Beer-swigging Sir Keir and deputy Angela Rayner have promised to resign if hit with fixed penalty notices […]

PANIC-stricken Labour chiefs are braced for 20 staff to be quizzed over Sir Keir Starmer’s lockdown curry.

Party chiefs fear their “work” defence may be sunk as beers were only bought because the boss was coming, sources say.

Beer-swigging Sir Keir and deputy Angela Rayner have promised to resign if hit with fixed penalty notices over the meal held with colleagues in Durham during restrictions in April last year.

Police launched a probe after he was snapped near a window of Durham Miners’ Hall drinking a cold one when no one was allowed to meet indoors or share food.

The Labour leader has previously said six attended the event but on Monday he suggested there were 15.

Labour insiders fear up to 20 police questionnaires could be sent out from next week, with more witnesses called in to give statements.

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Booze was said to have been bought only for the boss and was not on tap for other aides at the get-together.

An official itinerary listed dinner in the hall on the campaigning trip’s agenda — allowing 80 minutes.

No work was scheduled afterwards.

Allies of Sir Keir have been studying WhatsApp clips and other documents for evidence he headed out to carry on campaigning. He was in Durham on a trip to support Labour’s candidate in the Hartlepool by-election.

Guidance on party campaigning at the time said: “You should not meet other campaigners indoors. It’s safer to meet outdoors, where the risk of catching or spreading Covid is much lower, but two-metre social distancing should still be maintained.”

Sir Keir said he had put “everything on the line” by vowing to quit if found to have broken the law.

But he insists no rules were broken and that he will be cleared.

Rex