Keir Starmer has been accused by the Conservatives of hypocrisy over ‘Beergate’

Keir Starmer has been accused of “hypocrisy” as he faces a police inquiry.

The Labor leader has been reported over footage of him drinking beer with colleagues in April last year.

Durham Constabulary is looking into claims the event breached social distancing regulations in place at the time.

They say “significant new information” spurred the investigation.

Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi is among the Conservative critics calling for Sir Keir’s resignation.

She told Times Radio: “We must let the police conduct their investigations and that is only right and responsible.

“However, I think the public will be uncomfortable with the hypocrisy. I think he used one of three of his Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) to talk about parties instead of focusing on the cost of living.

“He tweeted himself and said that if you are under investigation, a criminal investigation, you should resign.”

The so-called “Beergate” inquiry is expected to last up to six weeks and, similar to the response to the No 10’s alleged lockdown violations, those present will have to fill out questionnaires.

Sir Keir supporters say his evening of drinks and curry differed greatly from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s alleged infractions.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC he would not “entertain” the prospect of the Labor leader resigning.

He said: “I have absolute confidence and faith that Keir Starmer has done the right thing all along.

‘He said so all along. He’s someone who practices what he preaches and as I said the police have looked at this before and haven’t found a case to answer.

“We are confident that this will be the case this time. I think the contrast between Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson will be even sharper because I actually think it’s ridiculous, from what we’ve seen Boris Johnson is still there and the Conservative MPs haven’t removed Boris Johnson.

And Welsh shadow secretary Jo Stevens told Times Radio she believes the Beergate furore is a “slander” of Conservatives.

She added that the opposing party had been “seriously damaged by the Prime Minister’s conduct”.

On Friday, Sir Keir told reporters in London he didn’t think the event broke coronavirus rules.

He said he stopped at Durham City MP Mary Foy’s office to “get something to eat” and insisted there was “no party”.

At the time of the apparent gathering, non-essential retail and outdoor spaces, including outdoor dining areas, were open, but social distancing rules, which included a ban on households mixing indoors, remained in place.

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