Keir Starmer Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Covid Lockdown Breach with Voice Coach

Keir Starmer is currently facing significant backlash regarding allegations that he may have breached Covid lockdown regulations while working with a voice coach in 2020. According to a new book detailing his leadership of the opposition, Starmer employed actress Leonie Mellinger to enhance his public speaking skills, asserting that her assistance was so crucial that she was granted “key worker” status throughout the pandemic. It is noted that Mellinger visited the Labour Party's headquarters wearing a mask on Christmas Eve in 2020 to advise Starmer as he deliberated over his response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit agreement. The Guido Fawkes website has pointed out that this visit could have violated the Covid restrictions in place at the time in London, which mandated that non-essential workers remain at home. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the government’s criteria for essential workers would not classify a political voice coach as necessary.

In light of these developments, Conservative Party officials have written to the Prime Minister seeking clarification, with shadow paymaster general Richard Holden pressing for an independent inquiry. In his correspondence, Mr. Holden references Starmer’s previous declarations that he adhered to all Covid rules, contending that the latest information challenges this claim and generates considerable questions. “Any infringement of these mandates would equate to a legal violation,” he asserted, noting that during the Tier 4 lockdown, those found in breach could face a Fixed Penalty Notice.

whether the Prime Minister regards it as a legal infringement, if an independent investigator will be appointed, whether the Labour Party sought legal guidance to maneuver around Covid restrictions, if Mellinger contracted COVID-19 during that time, if it would be appropriate for the public to receive acting lessons amid Tier 4 restrictions, and whether legal advice was obtained regarding Mellinger's status as a key worker. Mr. Holden concluded by emphasizing the public's right to scrutinize Starmer's conduct during the pandemic, accusing him of deceiving the public and showing disregard for the law while many were making significant sacrifices.

Starmer has previously been vocal in calling out Boris Johnson for what has been dubbed "Partygate", for which Johnson received a fine from the Metropolitan Police after a birthday gathering involving food at the Cabinet Office. In 2022, Starmer himself was investigated by Durham Police regarding the 'Beergate' incident, where he was seen drinking beer with Labour campaigners, but he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing. At that time, he assured voters that politicians should be expected to follow the same rules as everyone else, remarking, "The notion that I would nonchalantly violate those rules is incorrect." Starmer has reiterated his commitment to honor, integrity, and the principle that lawmakers must themselves abide by the laws they enact.