Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner to resign if fined over Beergate claims – UK politics live
Starmer #Starmer
Keir Starmer is often portrayed as a dull politician. But as Labour leader he has produced at least two moments of supreme political drama: first, suspending Jeremy Corbyn (when did a major party leader last boot out a predecessor?), and today promising to resign if fined over beergate.
No one makes a commitment of this kind from a position of strength, and the merits of Starmer’s move are being fiercely debated. But the manner in which he announced it was polished, and for three reasons many people are likely to be impressed.
First, it was in stark contrast to anything Boris Johnson would, or could, do. Starmer was able to say he stood for “honour and integrity” and it sounded credible. From Johnson, the same sentence would sound more like the punchline for a gag.
Second, Starmer sounded prime ministerial. Voters may elect celebrity/entertainment politicians, but some at least may hark back to the notion of having a leader with a bit more old-fashioned rectitude.
Third, and above all, it was ballsy. At one point during Watergate Ben Bradlee, the Washington Post editor, reputedly told his team “our cocks are on the chopping block”. Well, Starmer’s put his on the chopping block too. It may not be wise, but it certainly is brave.
This announcement also puts huge pressure on Durham police, who now find themselves in a position where they can decide the fate of the leader of the opposition. This may make them think twice about issuing a fine (assuming they ever get to the point where they might do so – it still seems much more likely that they will decide that this event did not reach the threshold for judging the law was broken). But it is also possible that the police could view this as an attempt to bounce them into a pro-Labour ruling, and that they will pursue the case with more vigour as a result.
Here are the main points.
I am absolutely clear that no laws were broken. They were followed at all times. I simply had something to eat whilst 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.
This is a matter of principle and honour for me. It’s about who I am and what I stand for. And I stand for honour and integrity, and the belief that politics is a force for good, and we shouldn’t all be dragged out by this cynical belief that all politicians are the same. And I’m here to make it clear that I am not the same.
We’ve seen 50 fines in Downing Street, we’ve seen a prime minister who won’t step stepped down. We are not all the same. I am different. And I’ve set out to date how I’m different.
I am absolutely clear that no laws were broken. They were followed at all times. I simply had something to eat whilst working late in the evening, as any politician would do days before an election.
