Keir Starmer’s pledge to resign could force police to drop party probe

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday vowed to quit if fined for Currygate — leaving his fate in Durham police’s hands.

Cornered Sir Keir was forced to say he would step down after calling for Boris Johnson to resign simply for being investigated by the cops.

But allies boasted it could see police not take action for fear of being seen to oust the Opposition chief.

Government minister Chris Philp suggested Sir Keir could be “attempting to pressure the police into clearing him” and called the move “deeply inappropriate”.

After days of trying to play down his lockdown beer and curry night, Sir Keir took the high stakes gamble to try and save his job.

Giving a telly statement in Westminster, where he shut out most of the media, he vowed to do “the right thing and step down” if he gets a fixed penalty notice.

His deputy Angela Rayner — who was also present at the boozy late-night campaigning event last year — pledged to fall on her sword too.

Sir Keir insisted he had done nothing wrong and accused political rivals of trying to drag his name through the mud.

He told an audience of three handpicked reporters at Labour’s HQ in London: “I believe in honour, integrity and the principle that those who make the laws must follow them.”

He insisted: “No laws were broken, they were followed at all times, I simply had something to eat while 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.” Sir Keir refused to say whether he would throw in the towel if cops say he did break the rules but don't fine him — as they did to ex-PM aide Dominic Cummings.

Labour chiefs struggled to defend the event — as they were hit by fresh claims that aides were sozzled after downing beers.

Flustered Wes Streeting failed to bat off attacks after Sir Keir cancelled a scheduled event to avoid a grilling from journalists.

The Shadow Health Secretary told the BBC on the night in question, Sir Keir “had some dinner, carried on working, and I just don't understand the controversy”.

Labour insiders have said they were ready to speak to police about what they saw on the fateful night in Durham. Yesterday a source with knowledge of the event told Politico that people in the room "were p***ed and obviously weren’t working”.

They added: “Of course it crossed the line.”

In a new poll, nearly half of Labour voters (48 per cent) said Sir Keir would have to go if he was fined.

More than 54 per cent of all Brits said he “probably” or “definitely” broke the rules, according to YouGov.

Three in five Brits (57 per cent) reckon the PM should quit too.

A string of Tories yesterday stopped short of calling for Sir Keir to resign if he is fined. MPs feel Boris still stands the best chance of winning against him.

• Additional reporting: Natasha Clark and Kate Ferguson