Sunday 19 June 2022 12:52 AM Labour chief Starmer 'tells party to make back-up plans to replace him' trends now
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly asked his party to line up replacements for him in case he has to resign over a boozy lockdown curry.
The Labour chief promised he would resign if Durham police fine him for an alleged breach of Covid rules.
Both he and deputy leader Angela Rayner have vowed to quit if they receive fixed penalty notices over the gathering at City of Durham Labour MP Mary Foy’s office in Durham Miners Hall.
Sir Keir was pictured swigging from a bottle of beer late in the evening. They both insist no laws were broken and they were working hard ahead of a by-election.
Yet their story has changed multiple times, with different accounts of whether or not Mrs Rayner was present, how many other people were there and why a £200 takeaway curry was ordered when their nearby hotel was serving meals.
Trouble brewing: Sir Keir Starmer holding a beer at Durham Miners Hall last year during a period of coronavirus restrictions
The Labour chief promised he would resign if Durham police fine him for an alleged breach of Covid rules
Both he and deputy leader Angela Rayner have vowed to quit if they receive fixed penalty notices over the gathering at City of Durham Labour MP Mary Foy’s office in Durham Miners Hall
Labour finally confirmed on Friday that Sir Keir’s questionnaire had been sent to Durham Police, as had that of Mrs Rayner.
Sir Keir has met with several of the shadow Cabinet and told them leadership campaign teams should be readied, according to the Sunday Times.
Possible successors include shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy and shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting as well as Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also been touted as a possibility for leader.
However, the person with the best odds to take over after Sir Keir isn’t even an MP.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has the shortest odds on Sky Bet with 5/1 to become the next leader of the Labour Party. In joint-second are Nandy and Streeting at 6/1.
If Sir Keir resigns candidates to replace him would need the support of 20
