
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing scrutiny following allegations that his voice coach traveled over 50 miles during lockdown to meet with him, raising questions about whether he adhered to the strict COVID-19 restrictions he publicly advocated.
Starmer, who was vocal about the need for tougher lockdown measures during the pandemic, now faces accusations of hypocrisy. Just days before allegedly meeting with his voice coach, Starmer was calling for stricter enforcement of restrictions, criticizing then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not imposing harsher rules.
“The tier system isn’t working as promised,” Starmer had argued at the time, insisting that the government’s reluctance to tighten restrictions was a mistake. Yet, reports now suggest that his own adherence to those very rules is being called into question.
This latest controversy centers around Leonie Mellinger, Starmer’s voice coach, who allegedly traveled between strict lockdown tiers to provide in-person coaching. Critics argue that this contradicts the principles Starmer upheld when calling for Boris Johnson’s resignation over alleged rule-breaking.
Mellinger had previously criticized Dominic Cummings for his lockdown trip to Durham in 2020, calling for an investigation into his actions. The apparent contradiction has led to accusations that Labour applies different standards to its own members.
The controversy echoes previous scrutiny over Starmer and Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who were investigated over a beer and curry gathering in Durham during lockdown. Though they were ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, the incident fueled the perception of a “two-tier” approach to lockdown rules.
Starmer has denied any wrongdoing in the latest allegations, with Labour insisting that Mellinger was classified as a “key worker” due to her role in preparing Starmer for public speeches. However, critics have challenged this classification, pointing out that key worker status was primarily reserved for professions essential to public health and safety, such as doctors, nurses, and police officers.
Conservative MP Richard Holden, who has been vocal in his criticism, questioned why Starmer’s coaching could not have been conducted remotely, as was the case for countless professionals across the UK at the time. “The Labour Party would have hounded Boris Johnson out of office for this,” Holden said. “It seems to be one rule for Starmer and another for everyone else.”
Political analysts suggest that this incident could have lasting repercussions for Starmer’s credibility, particularly as he positioned himself as a champion of accountability during the Partygate scandal. While Number 10 insists that all rules were followed, the optics of the situation have left many questioning whether Labour has truly held itself to the same standards it has demanded of others.
As calls for an investigation grow louder, this latest development adds further fuel to the ongoing debate over how politicians adhered to their own COVID-19 restrictions. Whether this controversy will fade or escalate remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly reignited discussions over hypocrisy in political leadership.