Jeremy Corbyn apologises for breaching ‘rule of six’ at dinner party for nine

The former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has apologised after being pictured attending a dinner party with eight other people, in an apparent breach of the rule of six.

MEASURES limiting the number of people who can gather together were brought in on September 14 in an effort to bring down the rapidly rising Covid-19 cases. Jeremy Corbyn said: “I recently had dinner at a friend’s house where the number of guests eventually exceeded five. I understand that remaining at the dinner was a breach of the rule of six. I apologise for my mistake.”

The “rule of six” measure was brought in earlier this month in a bid to stop the second wave of coronavirus worsening. Gatherings of more than six indoors or outdoors are banned unless those attending already live together. People face fines of €224 (£200) each for first-time offenders. Guests at Jeremy’s party included left-wing activists, filmmakers and artists. The rule has caused much confusion over recent days, with Boris Johnson himself being forced to make an apology after getting the rules wrong.

Corbyn is not the first politician to flout the rules

Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary resigned in August over the so-called Golfgate scandal. The dinner was held a day after the government in which he served, facing a surge in cases, imposed restrictions – effective immediately – that limited indoor gatherings to six people, down from the 50 previously allowed.

Boris Johnson himself was accused of breaking his own Covid rules, opposition leaders demanded police action. The PM had been accused of breaking his own coronavirus rules after 50 MPs apparently crammed into a room in Parliament to hear the Prime Minister speak. His own father was spotted without a mask a few days ago looking for a newspaper in a shop in London’s west-end.

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