Tory MP Gagan Mohindra has pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the House of Commons, questioning whether he and his voice coach, Leonie Mellinger, adhered to all the rules during an in-person meeting held in December 2020, when London was under strict Tier 4 lockdown restrictions. The question comes amid the ongoing scrutiny of Starmer’s actions during the pandemic, specifically surrounding a meeting with Mellinger, who was not officially working for Labor at the time.
Starmer, who has faced criticism for his handling of lockdown measures and his calls for stricter restrictions, refused to confirm whether all the rules were followed during the controversial meeting. Mohindra, seizing the opportunity to challenge the Labor leader, demanded clarity on whether Starmer and Mellinger had followed the guidelines set out during the pandemic, adding pressure on the opposition leader to explain his actions, reported by Guido Fawkes.
In response, Starmer avoided directly answering the question, instead deflecting with accusations that the Tories had been “far worse” during the Partygate scandal. He attempted to justify his actions by claiming he had been working “at speed” on a Brexit statement during that time. However, many have dismissed this defense as insufficient, particularly given Starmer’s vocal criticism of others’ alleged lockdown breaches.
Starmer’s reluctance to confirm whether he followed the rules during his meeting with Mellinger, a long-time family friend, while pushing for tougher restrictions, has left him vulnerable to accusations of hypocrisy. This refusal to clarify his position is likely to fuel the ongoing controversy and may further damage his credibility, especially as the Labor leader has positioned himself as a champion of the rules throughout the pandemic.
The issue, now dubbed “VoiceCoachGate,” has become a significant point of contention, with many questioning how Starmer can maintain the moral high ground when his own actions during the pandemic are under scrutiny. Critics argue that Starmer’s failure to unequivocally confirm that he followed all rules could leave him facing a political crisis.
The fallout from this controversy could have serious implications for Starmer and his leadership, with some suggesting that his credibility is hanging by a thread. As the pressure mounts, the Prime Minister’s office is likely to face increasing scrutiny, with the public and political opponents demanding more transparency over Starmer’s pandemic conduct.
