SHADOW Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said Labour leader Keir Starmer’s decision to step down if fined by police demonstrates his decency and honour.

In a televised statement yesterday afternoon, the opposition leader committed to doing “the right thing” if he is fined by police over an allegation he broke coronavirus laws.

Sir Keir repeatedly denied breaking the laws amid pressure over a gathering held in Durham last year, claiming that Conservatives accusing him of breaking lockdown rules of “trying to feed cynicism” of politicians.

He said: “I believe in honour, integrity and the principle that those who make the laws must follow them and I believe that politicians who undermine that principle undermine trust in politics, undermine our democracy and undermine Britain.”

Mr Kyle, the MP for Hove, said that the announcement proved that “not all politicians are the same”.

He said: “Keir Starmer has shown what decency looks like in practice.

“If Boris Johnson had a fraction of Keir’s honour he’d have gone after his first fine, will he go after the next?”

The Argus: Sir Keir has said he will do the "right thing" and step down if he is fined by police for breaking Covid regulations rules at Labour Party offices in Durham last year: credit - PASir Keir has said he will do the "right thing" and step down if he is fined by police for breaking Covid regulations rules at Labour Party offices in Durham last year: credit - PA

Sir Keir has been under growing pressure over ‘Beergate’ after previously calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Borish Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak after they were both fined for a Covid breach.

Policing minister Kit Malthouse told LBC that if Sir Keir were to resign, that would not mean the Prime Minister should also do the same.

He said: “Obviously in any situation where the rules were moving around, there were misunderstandings or mistakes were made, and apologies are made and they are accepted, then people of all walks of life should be able to keep their jobs.

“But Keir Stamer has to speak for himself and set his own standards.”

According to gambling firm Bet365 Mr Kyle is 60/1 to become the next Labour leader, while Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle is 100/1.

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is the bookies’ favourite at 4/1, followed by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting on 11/2, with deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy joint third on 7/1.