Is Starmer seriously going to resign???

[Swayingpalmtrees]

I have been waiting for a thread to come up about this, but I can't see one to date. I can't believe Keir Starmer has now said he will resign (and Angela Rayner as well) Potentially leaving the Labour party with no leader at all!

Looking at the 'evidence' that is well known and has been published, it appears the Indian takeaway was pre ordered (due to its size) and pre planned according to the staff at the Indian and the leaked memo, it did include quite a number of people and bottles of beer etc and drinking. It was late into the night, so not work related, and no one is suggesting anyone continued to work afterwards as it was so late. I don't see how this is any different to the No10 arrangements! So how on earth will they avoid a fine??

Sir Keir's speech was so wobbly I actually thought he was resigning there and then, and although I appreciate the sentiments of integrity and honour, where on earth does that leave the LP with under two years to the election or less?

Who would replace him? Do we have any thoughts on a plan of any kind?

I am kind of aghast, we are in the middle of a European war, on the cusp of potentially WW3, I am not sure this is a responsible action given the seriousness of our predicament with Russia whom are threatening us on a weekly basis with nuclear war. At the very very least, we need a firm hand on the tiller, so to speak, we do not have time to be squabbling over beer and cheese.
AIBU?

Yes. That's because they are not allowed to announce anything (during a set period) that might affect the elections.

Send for young Delingpole, scion of the delightful Spectator contributor James, to spy on Wes Streeting through his windows. Don't forget your camera, young Ivo, you do your family credit

I am very flattered new but sadly for me the reality is a little less exciting as I sit here in the sunshine with my rather limp salad for company, but maybe I should give my CV an airing if you feel I am being wasted in my current role?

I am not sure what Ivo is meant to mean, or the family credit angle. I have teens and even if I were to win a noble prize tomorrow I doubt they would be impressed.

Shouldn't we be aiming higher than the gutter with the next one?

It doesn't really matter to the average person if Keir resigns or not, him having integrity isn't going to make any quantifiable difference to their lives is it ?
The Conservatives still have a huge parliamentary majority, they can essentially do as they please for the next two years and nobody can stop them.

The only upside of this is that the buck absolutely stops with them and them alone.

Front page of the Daily Mail.

Who have been running a campaign to get the police to fine him.

Now they’re worried the police won’t fine him, their campaign will look stupid and so they’re going for the ‘police corruption’ angle echoed by the OP earlier.

The MET police ran a heavily publicised fining mission right until the last minute jax, but strangely despite having ample evidence Durham were not able to kick start their investigation very very conveniently until after the local elections.
We are supposed to think that is police incompetence again and not Joy Allen heavily leaning on them for her pals in the party.

Excellent point

Reckon he is trying to call the police’s bluff. He probably is trying to sway the decision of one hasn’t been made. Either that - or he already knows he won’t be charged therefore after being caught out in a lie and appearing sanctimonious- has said he will resign to save a bit of face. Either way - labour could do with another leader I think.

The Met announced on 21st April that they would not provide further updates on FPNs until after the local elections.

It is amazing the threads full of people that drink on the job, and yet in real life most of us would never work again if we did this! In reality no one does this.
We drink AFTER work perhaps, like Starmer a beer and a bite to eat to celebrate the end of the week maybe.

But working hours, nope!

It is a gross dereliction of duty for most of us - and the same applies to both political parties. The vast majority of voters are looking for sober, intelligent and nuanced leaders capable of running political parties without being three sheets to the wind.

"The vast majority of voters are looking for sober, intelligent and nuanced leaders capable of running political parties without being three sheets to the wind"

And you think you have that in Johnson?

One beer with a meal isn't going to alter that

The Met announced on 21st April that they would not provide further updates on FPNs until after the local elections

Exactly. The elections were on the 5th of May so very close to that date, when it was still running in every newspaper.

Durham sadly could not find the evidence required suddenly before the 21st of April, and were then leaned on by local MPs to even restart their investigation despite having sat on new evidence, what does that tell you about our police force and their neutrality?

It bloody stinks.

I am so sick of people spreading their lies and nonsense to try to smear the LO leaders. Starmer seems like a perfectly intelligent, well intentioned man and I'm certain he would make a good PM.

And you think you have that in Johnson?

I am not a supporter of Johnson. NONE of them are good enough is the right answer.

And how does that work exactly? What does Starmer have that Durham police force could possibly want? They have no loyalty to him.

You’re basically saying that there is only one outcome you would consider credible and that’s just silly. You either trust the process as a whole or you don’t, just choosing to trust one outcome shows up a resolute bias.

Starmer seems like a perfectly intelligent, well intentioned man and I'm certain he would make a good PM

You are literally the only person to say that on the whole thread so far.

The UK has been a key player in standing up to Putin and in providing equipment/training for the Ukrainian resistance movement. France has not - indeed Macron has been more of a hinderance than a help so it's for the best that he is too preoccupied by domestic concerns so that he can't make any more foreign affairs gaffes

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Well in fairness the Daily Mail didn't start their Beergate campaign until late April.

The rules on purdah are there for a reason.

And to answer your question errrm.. yes he has said he would resign if he received a fine, so he will. And so will Angela Raynor, it’s called having integrity.

@MissyB1 are you always so trusting of politicians' promises? He is a lawyer, they pretty much build their careers around loopholes. He'll wriggle out of it on a technicality ("it's an FPN, not a fine" or something).

In reality no one does this.

Thats not strictly true. It does happen. But in specific industries and even within them, not often.

I agree that the majority of people wouldn't recognise beers and Indian takeaways as a 'working dinner' and an unremarkable part of the working day.

nd how does that work exactly? What does Starmer have that Durham police force could possibly want? They have no loyalty to him

That is not true actually.

Labour installed the Crime Tsar - Joy Allen. It is well documented.

"Joy Allen - Working for Durham Police and Crime Commissionervote.labour.org.uk › joy-allen
As a Labour Councillor and Cabinet Member I have held the Safer Communities portfolio where I worked closely with the late Ron Hogg, Durham's Police, ..."

"Joy was elected as Bishop Auckland's Mayor in 2019. Following the untimely death of Ron Hogg CBE, Joy was selected by the Labour Party to stand as their candidate for Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to be held on the 7th May 2020"

vote.labour.org.uk/joy-allen
www.joy4durhampcc.com/about/

I wouldn't rely on that! He also states that the EA2010 says that some men must be treated as women. It doesn't!

I wouldn’t get carried away to that extent, I do, however, think he’s on the right side of history holding the current cabinet to account.

I also think that BJ can’t possibly be the best the tories have to offer (and if he is they’re f’ed).

The Tories and Labour are not their leaders, there are whole parties working under the same flags. There’s no need for individual loyalty to personality if you’re loyal to a political party.