Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been cleared of an allegation he broke lockdown rules after he was photographed drinking a beer in an office.

Sir Keir was in the City of Durham MP’s office, working in the run-up to the Hartlepool by-election in April 2021, when the incident occurred.

Last month, the Labour leader refused to apologise over the image, saying eating a takeaway with staff is “a million miles away” from some of the partygate allegations which have engulfed Downing Street.

At the time of the photo, people in England were banned from mixing indoors apart from for work.

Police have confirmed they do not believe an offence was committed.

“Durham Constabulary has reviewed video footage recorded in Durham on 30 April 2021,” a spokesman said.

“We do not believe an offence has been established in relation to the legislation and guidance in place at that time and will therefore take no further action in relation to this matter.”

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Starmer: We did nothing wrong

Speaking to LBC last month, Sir Keir said: “We were working, a takeaway turned up, and we stopped to eat it. We didn’t break any rules, we did nothing wrong.”

The Labour leader was criticised by his political opponents for calling for Mr Johnson’s resignation over the PM attending lockdown parties at Downing Street.

But he refused to apologise over the photo and said: “There comes a point when the Tories try to take everyone into the gutter with them.”

Sir Keir also reiterated his call for Mr Johnson’s resignation, saying: “I think it is in the national interest Boris goes now. He has lost all authority.”

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Where are we with partygate?

While Durham police have put Sir Keir in the clear over his lockdown beer, the Met Police continues to investigate lockdown-breaching parties held in Westminster.

It follows a separate cabinet officer inquiry, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, into the allegations that have imperilled Mr Johnson’s political future.

What parties are alleged to have taken place in Westminster during lockdown?

A total of five Number 10 aides resigned last week in the wake of the “partygate” scandal.

And another two Conservative MPs also called for Mr Johnson to quit on Friday – with Nick Gibb and Aaron Bell both submitting letters of no confidence in his leadership.

This brings the total number of MPs who have now publicly called for the PM to go to 14 – although not all have formally communicated this to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.

A confidence vote will be triggered if Sir Graham receives letters from 54 MPs – 15% of the parliamentary party.

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