To think Labour are hypocrites

[Labscollie]

Beergate. Turns out the event was planned. To think of all the slating Starmer gave Johnson. 🤔 This site's favourite newspaper, the Dailymail, has released a leaked memo, which might mark Starmer's downfall. If Johnson could survive, can Starmer?

Why would Boris need to resign even if Keir does? Keir is being held to Keir’s own ridiculous standards. It’s a hole he has dug for himself only. I don’t think Boris or rishi has called for anyone to resign over something? If they had and then yes done the same thing then they would be hypocritical too and have to resign.
It’s the hypocrisy Starmer has to resign over not the curry.

Rules were obviously just meant for the little people and not something that would get in the way of government work take outs. DH took sandwiches to work and had to keep 2m distance at work but of course we wouldn't expect them to do that would we.

We don’t have all the facts yet, but as things stand they look very different situations. A culture of repeated parties, alcohol and associated rule/law breaking at the heart of government vs a drink and some food for a group of people whilst working together. Time will of course tell if the Starmer thing is more than that, and if he is fined he should (and I think will) resign, but it does not in any way negate what went on in Downing Street. Roll on the Sue Grey report.

The Tories and their servants in the press are obviously terrified of him and have expertly used this crap to divert attention from the disaster the Tories had at the polls on Thursday.

Anyone who sees much of a connection between this event and the plethora of events at downing Street is either utterly stupid or kidding themselves.

The so-called smoking gun in the mail today just proves it was a meal for staff at the end of a long working day, as claimed.

Do you think a police investigation is worth coverage?

if he is fined should he go?

Some of his party think so

This.

The rules were substantially different in 2021 compared to those in force at the time of all the No 10 parties. I would suspend judgment till we find out whether any were actually broken.

It's obvious that the Mail dragged all this up because they were in a panic about the local elections, and some of their information sources seem to be dodgy in the extreme. The fact that a working meal was factored into a working day doesn't seem to be in any way comparable to the birthday shenanigans, let alone the Abba party.

I disagree. It isn't just about hypocrisy, though that is a factor. It's about taking responsibility. If KS is fined and resigns, Labour can at least argue that he has taken responsibility. The Tories cannot.

As for Keir holding Boris to ridiculous standards... really? Is it ridiculous to expect a prime minister to uphold the laws that he himself has introduced? And to tell the truth about his actions to Parliament?

No. Starmer's standards are not the problem here. If he has fallen short of the reasonable expectation that lawmakers should obey the law, then he needs to go, but that doesn't make Boris any less culpable.

The whole thing is ridiculous!

For people who had to go to work and couldn't work from home, then the rules about sharing a drink and food at lunch-time or at the end of the working day with colleagues who they have been in meetings with all day was arbitrary. The memo on Kier's plan for the day even specifies they need to social distance where possible so cannot see a problem at all.

I worked throughout the pandemic as I work in a school, and we ate our lunches in the school hall, socially distanced.

What a waste of tax-payers money investigating this!

I'm a Labour supporter, and if he is fined, I absolutely think he should go. His position would be untenable.

I think Boris should go too, but that's not going to happen.

MarshaBraydo

I think the police have been heavily leant on, which I find extremely troubling. Funny how the same police force didn't see any issue with Cummings and his sight-testing excursion at the heart of lockdown but now they're looking into this....

If he is fined he should resign, yes, and I believe he will. That will be very tricky for Johnson.

The police started the investigation that’s why it was picked up again and the rules at the time were no indoor socialising

on timing Starmer is lucky it was the day after local elections. Many people voted on this issue and will find it hypocritical

I always found it ridiculous but he moralised and used it heavily to his advantage so it will come back on him

@luckylavender how so?

They did want that did they not?

Yes, they are, OP, if it was the case it was pre planned. The difference between them and the Tories, however, is that Starmer will stay true to his word and do the honourable thing and resign if he gets a fine. He has no choice, as former legal professional. Which should hopefully shame Johnson into doing the same.

Nope

I can definitely see KS resigning over this sadly, because he is an honourable person and will do the honourable thing.

Why would Boris need to resign even if Keir does? Keir is being held to Keir’s own ridiculous standards.

I spent two years in school not able to interact properly with the kids I teach and having to work incredibly hard to maintain bubbles.

I spent two years hardly seeing my elderly parents and never seeing most friends, as did my little children.

We did this because of laws Johnson introduced. I don't understand anyone who says his behaviour is fine, it's just bizarre

Regardless of if it has been lied about I really wish people could see the real Kier Starmer! Not the lovely, thoughtful man we see on tv but an arrogant, two faced hypocrite who looks down on people like they are something he's trodden in. My ex dh worked for him!

I think the video supports Keir's account that it was a lunch break.

If you look at the video, there's a woman in the doorway stuffing a takeaway into her mouth.

Now, maybe it's just the parties I go to, but when socials are planned, we tend to sit and eat at leisure. Stood in the doorway, stuffing food... that suggests to me food eaten on the go, as in a lunch break.

During that stage of the pandemic, when I had lunch at work, I ate it at my desk with the people in my office. That was not against the rules.

I think the biggest thing he is guilty of is having a beer with his meal.

Labour are not an opposition party, which is why won't vote for them. I'm not sure what they stand for?? That, and they can't even say what a women is and is not.

Probably should wait a bit before deciding that he's guilty of anything. The right wing press will be desperate to 'even the ante' to support Boris but even if the police do decide that rules were broken (and it is an 'if' at this stage) then the politicians in power are always going to be seen as more culpable as they were supposed to be enforcing the rules.

Hmmmm. Could there be a reason he is your ex?

The right wing media just wants something to paste across their front pages to deflect away from Boris and his antics. That's how far politics has fallen these days - it's not possible to hold your own guy up to any high moral standard so you try and pull everyone else down to your own level. The 'let's let Boris get on with running the country' narrative hasn't worked so the next option is to start smearing. Unfortunately for the rags, they won't find any evidence of Keir cohorting with communists during the cold war so this is the next best option.

This is my take on it too.

Keir Starmer is a fundamentally decent, competent and hard working man. Nothing has been handed to him on a plate. That being said I will be voting Labour in the next election whether it's Starmer, Rayner or Burnham in charge.