LAST CHANCE SALOON
Keir Starmer insists he WILL quit if fined over Beergate as he stakes his career on police probe
SIR KEIR Starmer today vowed to QUIT if fined over Beergate as he gambled his future on the police probe into his lockdown curry bash.
After demanding both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak resign over Partygate, the Labour leader pledged to fall on his own sword if also stung by cops.
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Speaking from Labour HQ in central London he said: "I'm absolutely clear that no laws were broken. They were followed at all times.
"I simply had something to eat while working late in the evening, because 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."
His deputy Angela Rayner also announced she would chuck in the towel if fined, plunging the party into a further leadership crisis.
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Sir Keir has battled accusations of rank hypocrisy since becoming mired in his own Durham Police probe last week over the April 2021 gathering.
Tory rivals blasted him for double-standards after he had previously called for the PM's head when the Met opened its parties inquiry.
The Labour leader used his statement - delivered to only a few broadcasters after most press was banned - to lash out at his enemies.
He said: "The idea that I would then casually break those rules is wrong, and frankly I don’t believe those accusing me believe it themselves.
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"They are just trying to feed cynicism, so the public to believe all politicians are the same."
He pointed out he had isolated six times - and said he was nothing like the PM.
But backed into a corner, Sir Keir today met aides to agree if would have to chuck in the towel if handed a fixed penalty notice.
He was lampooned for putting Durham Constabulary cops into the uncomfortable position of deciding the future of British politics.
Conservative chiefs had stopped short of demanding Sir Keir resign as it would pile pressure on Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak to do the same.
Sir Keir still insists he broke no rules the night he was filmed swigging San Miguel lager in Labour's local constituency office in Durham.
Covid rules at the time prevented indoor social gatherings with anyone outside your household.
Since The Sun first revealed the damning footage, Sir Keir has claimed he and staff stopped for an Indian takeaway before getting back to work.
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But his Beergate story has been blown apart by repeated revelations steamrollering his claims and making the event look fishy.
Today it was revealed by an insider that staff were drunk and did not go back to work after wolfing down plates of curry.
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