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How many drinkers does it take to make a party? We ask the question because the numbers said to have attended Sir Keir Starmer's boozy gathering in Durham last year appear to be swelling.
The initial story was that it was just the Labour leader and a few colleagues enjoying a beer and a takeaway after a long day on the local election campaign trail.
Yesterday, however, Sir Keir admitted the 'team' around him comprised six people. Presumably also present were representatives of the constituency association, whose office it was.
Sir Keir Starmer being interviewed by host Sophie Raworth for BBC1. He yesterday admitted the 'team' of colleagues he drank a beer with last April comprised around six people
How many in total, then. Ten? A dozen? More? Bear in mind that this was at a time when indoor socialising was banned AND, as the Daily Mail reveals today, there was specific official guidance for the May 6 elections that campaigners should NOT meet indoors.
So how does this get-together differ in principle from Boris Johnson having a drink with senior staff after work in the Downing Street garden during lockdown? Indeed the outdoor setting was surely safer.
Yet Sir Keir demands Mr Johnson's resignation, while steadfastly refusing to apologise (three times yesterday alone) for his own obvious rule-breaking.
Yes, there were multiple gatherings at Downing Street, some in probable breach of Covid restrictions. But that doesn't make Sir Keir's soiree any more acceptable. Or him any less of a steaming hypocrite.
The truth is the public are becoming heartily sick of this unedifying bunfight.
Once mandarin Sue Gray has reported on the affair, Mr
