Keir Starmer Faces Scrutiny Over Voice Coach Visit During 2020 Lockdown

Labour leader's in-person session with voice coach during Tier 4 restrictions raises questions about adherence to pandemic rules.

Labour sources confirmed that Keir Starmer's voice coach, Leonie Mellinger, visited Labour HQ on Christmas Eve 2020 despite London being under Tier 4 restrictions.
Voice coaches were not classified as key workers under pandemic regulations, and Mellinger had previously conducted sessions virtually with other clients during the lockdown.
Labour defended the in-person session as 'necessary,' citing Tier 4 guidance allowing work that could not be done remotely, though this justification has faced criticism.
The visit coincided with Starmer publicly advocating for stricter lockdown measures and accusing the government of delays in handling the pandemic.
Opposition figures and critics have accused Starmer of hypocrisy, pointing to the contrast between his public stance on restrictions and the private actions taken during this period.