Beergate

Beergate refers to a political controversy in the United Kingdom that arose in May 2022 concerning a gathering of Labour Party staff, including then-Shadow Cabinet member Keir Starmer, in Durham, England, on April 30, 2021. At the time, the UK was under COVID-19 restrictions, with indoor gatherings generally prohibited except for work purposes if "reasonably necessary."

The event involved Labour Party staff and MPs consuming takeaway food and beer in a constituency office after a day of campaigning for the upcoming Hartlepool by-election. Initial reports suggested a small number of people were present, but subsequent investigations revealed a larger gathering than initially claimed.

The controversy centered on whether the gathering violated COVID-19 regulations. Critics argued that the event was a social gathering, not a legitimate work activity, and thus constituted a breach of the rules. This argument was strengthened by comparisons to the "Partygate" scandal involving gatherings at 10 Downing Street during the same period, where similar accusations were made against Conservative Party members, including then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Durham Constabulary launched an investigation into the event. In July 2022, they announced that they would not be issuing any fines, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that a breach of the regulations had occurred. They concluded that the event was reasonably necessary for work purposes.

Despite the police investigation's outcome, Beergate remained a significant political issue. It fueled accusations of hypocrisy against Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, who had been critical of the Conservative Party's breaches of COVID-19 regulations. The controversy impacted public perception of Starmer and the Labour Party, and contributed to political tensions within the UK.

The term "Beergate" is a portmanteau of "beer" and "gate," a suffix frequently used to denote political scandals since the Watergate scandal in the United States. The term quickly gained widespread usage in the media and political discourse to refer to the controversy.