Labour is concerned that Sir Keir Starmer could face a fine as a result of the alleged ‘Beergate’ scandal.

Labour is concerned that Sir Keir Starmer could face a fine as a result of the alleged ‘Beergate’ scandal. Last night, the threat of a Covid breach in April 2021 heightened after Durham police acknowledged that they were following strict national standards on lockdown offenses.

Because the Durham force opted not to impose a retrospective penalty on Dominic Cummings for his Barnard Castle trip in 2020, several Starmer allies believe he will be spared punishment.

However, the force made it plain in a new Freedom of Information (FOI) release that they were following amended advice at the time of the alleged incident involving Sir Keir, his deputy Angela Rayner, and other Labour colleagues.

In early 2021, the National Police Chiefs’ Council issued new instructions, which resulted in an increase in Covid-related fixed penalty fines. Over 23,000 persons were prosecuted last year, compared to little over 4,000 in 2020.

Labour MPs admitted last night that the revelation will heighten fears that Sir Keir, who has threatened to resign if fined, will receive the same FPN that Boris Johnson received for attending his birthday party at No10 in June 2020.

Last night, Durham police’s response appeared to demonstrate that whatever their ultimate decision is, it would not be based on any liberal local policy on retrospective fines, according to Tory MP Richard Holden, who initiated the FOI request. Instead, the new national advise for 2021 would be the only appropriate guideline.

‘This may upset Labour supporters, but Durham Constabulary appears to be informing me in this response that the only relevant advise is the updated national police advice for 2021,’ Mr Holden added.

Some Labour colleagues, according to one senior Labour MP, would be pleased to see Sir Keir penalised since it would allow for a’more charismatic’ leader to take his place.

Sir Keir’s supporters denied the claim Tuesday, insisting that he had broken no regulations during his sabbatical from campaigning for local elections. They further argued that the fact that Durham police followed national guidelines was no secret.

However, it was revealed last week that police had sent ‘very extensive’ questions to Sir Keir and Ms Rayner, who has also offered to retire if penalised, in relation to the alleged ‘beer and curry’ meeting at the office of Durham MP Mary Foy.