Keir Starmer’s instant decision on resignation took three days to be revealed

When Sir Keir Starmer found out from a journalist’s tweet not Durham police that he was facing an investigation over “beergate”, his first instinct, aides say, was bold.

As a former director of public prosecutions, Starmer realised more quickly than some that the inquiry would drag on for weeks and potentially months. It was on Friday, shortly after learning of the inquiry, that he asked advisers if he should pre-announce his resignation.

Yet it was not until yesterday, more than 72 hours after the police’s intervention, that he revealed his hand.

Starmer says he will step down if fined by police

A quick decision that took three days to realise: it is an episode which could be said to exemplify in miniature Starmer’s two years as Labour leader. This, even supporters concede, is not the