Durham Police statement in full after Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner cleared over Beergate

Durham Police statement in full after Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner cleared over Beergate
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 08/07/2022

- 13:19

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:51

Police have concluded their investigation into the gathering at the Miners’ Hall

Durham Police have confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner will not receive a fixed penalty notice over Beergate.

A statement released by the force said the pair had "no case to answer for" as the investigation comes to a close.


The statement read: "Following the emergence of significant new information, an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary into a gathering at the Miners’ Hall, in Redhills, Durham on 30th April 2021. That investigation has now concluded.

"A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on the Wakefield by-election campaign trail with Labour candidate Simon Lightwood. Picture date: Monday June 13, 2022.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
Peter Byrne

Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner
Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner
Kirsty O'Connor

"Following the application of the evidential Full Code Test, it has been concluded that there is no case to answer for a contravention of the regulations, due to the application of an exception, namely reasonably necessary work.

"Accordingly, Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken.

The investigation has been thorough, detailed and proportionate.

"The final evidence supplied by participants from the local constituency was returned to Durham Police on July 5 and analysed by investigators against all the evidence before the investigation was concluded on July 8 2022.

"In line with established national policing guidelines, we will not name or otherwise identify any of those present at the gathering, all of whom have been informed of the investigation outcome by their legal representatives."

Speaking after the statement was released, Sir Keir tweeted: “I’ve always said no rules were broken when I was in Durham. The police have completed their investigation and agreed: there is no case to answer. For me, this was always a matter of principle. Honesty and integrity matter. You will always get that from me.”

While Ms Rayner added: “We’ve always been clear that no rules were broken in Durham. The police have completed their investigation and agreed, saying that there is no case to answer.

“Integrity matters in politics. The contrast with the behaviour of this disgraced Prime Minister couldn’t be clearer.”

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