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Starmer faces investigation and memo leak

9 May 2022297 views0

A confidential Labour party document leaked and published by the Mail on Sunday left journalists in a frenzy over the weekend, as publications reviewed the memo and proceeded to run stories refuting or supporting the Mail’s own bias towards it’s insight into the ongoing ‘Beergate’ incident.

Confidential file from inside Labour HQ reveals full hypocrisy of leader’s endless calls for PM to resign

The Labour memo revealed that the beer and curry dinner with fellow MP Mary Foy that has sparked what some are calling ‘Beergate’ was planned in advance. Prior to the memo’s publication, Durham Police announced they would launch a full investigation into whether or not Starmer had broken lockdown rules last April.

image: Mail on Sunday

The Mail sensationalistically described the memo as:

a bombshell document
[a] dramatic revelation

They also ran an accompanying follow-up story, quoting Labour supporters to emphasise how damaging this has been to the party:

Rattled Starmer snubs the chance to clear air: after leaked memo sinks his story – and Labour insiders say he’ll be axed if fined – Sir Keir pulls out of Press grilling today

Starmer [is] ‘running scared’
insiders warned that the party was in ‘crisis mode’
sources suggest it was ‘almost inevitable’ that [he] would face the axe if he was fined: the headline states this is definitive, which it is not
evidence follows a bruising week
Owen Jones said that ‘people like me were wrong to dismiss [the events] out of hand’
Diane Abbott said, ‘If he actually gets a fixed penalty notice he really has to consider his position’

Daily Mail

Media outlets rightly acknowledged that Sir Keir has previously suggested the meal was a spontaneous event. The memo itself, which shows the meal had been part of his schedule, suggests otherwise. Publications have thus interpreted the memo in accordance with political bias, with some quoting statements from members or supports of opposing parties as leverage to their angle:

‘He is Mr Rules’: Labour denies leak shows Starmer broke lockdown laws

The Guardian

Starmer has repeatedly claimed that the meal…did not break lockdown rules because he was eating in the course of work, and not attending a social event
Tories argued the memo was evidence the meal was in breach of lockdown rules because it showed that it was prearranged
Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary […] said Starmer was the victim of “an absolutely desperate attempt to sling mud” and that it was “absurd” to equate this with a prime minister under investigation for 12 separate gatherings

A follow up piece ran as follows:

Leaked Beergate memo could clear Starmer, lawyer believes

The Guardian

Adam Wagner, a barrister specialising in lockdown rules, says document shows purpose of meal was political, not social
He said, “The regulations allowed for any gathering that was reasonably necessary for work or voluntary activity. And obviously the purpose of that visit overall was for the leader of the opposition to visit the local campaigners and the local MP and that is all on the schedule.”

What were the rules?
Indoor gatherings were allowed for “work purposes” and that food could be consumed together if “reasonably necessary for work”.

What are the inconsistencies?
Labour has now admitted Angela Rayner was present, when they originally said she wasn’t.

There is speculation around the takeaway bill, with some saying it was £200. Syed Zohorul Jr, who helps run the takeway The Capital, said the claim was exaggerated: “It hasn’t been that big an order. It wasn’t £200,” adding, “It was a year ago and we don’t have a record. But I’m sure it was a smaller order.”

An unnamed source quoted in the Sunday Times has claimed Sir Keir did not return to work after the meal. They ran the following: