Sir Keir Starmer's lockdown voice coach was not a "key worker", while speech therapists were not exempt from Covid "Stay at Home" rules, it has emerged.
Leonie Mellinger, said to be a long-time friend of Starmer, had visited Labour HQ on December 24, 2020, because it was "necessary" for her to be there in person.
But at the same time, the voice coach had shared images of her work being done over videocall around the same time.
Mellinger told Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire - the authors of a new book about Starmer's road to No10 - that she had "permission to travel as a key worker".
Leonie Mellinger, said to be a long-time friend of Starmer, had visited Labour HQ on December 24, 2020
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But Labour sources have said the issue of her key worker status was not relevant, and have insisted that Mellinger could not have worked with the Labour leader from home.
The news of her Christmas meeting with Starmer has prompted utter fury from Conservatives - in part due to Starmer's own scathing attacks on "partygate" at the time.
Richard Holden, the Tory MP who wrote to the PM demanding answers earlier this week, said: "It is beyond time for Sir Keir Starmer to come clean and clarify why it was so essential to have a speech and acting coach cross tiers to be with him on Christmas Eve when London was in lockdown.
"Anything short of total transparency would be him admitting that he holds others to a higher standard than that to which he believes he should be held himself.
READ MORE ON 'VOICE COACH-GATE':
- Keir Starmer's voice coach 'travelled 50 miles' to meet him while lockdown rules were in place... but PM denies wrongdoing
- 'So offensive!' Michelle Dewberry opens up on being in hospital for a month alone as Starmer met Covid voice coach
- WATCH: Jacob Rees-Mogg's HILARIOUS impression of Keir Starmer amid lockdown voice coaching row
Starmer failed to defend meeting his voice coach on Christmas Eve at PMQs on Wednesday
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"Starmer's Government of 'openness' and 'transparency' is rapidly proving to be one of cover-up and hypocrisy. Only he can change that by telling the truth."
Then, at PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer failed to defend meeting Mellinger.
Tory MP Gagan Mohindra told the Commons: "I know that like everyone in the House, the Prime Minister is an honourable member.
"On that basis, can he repeat his assurances that all rules were followed while the country was in Tier 4 lockdown in December 2020, not just by him but his team as well, but also his voice coach Leonie Mellinger?"
The Prime Minister replied: "In December 2020, I was in my office working on the expected Brexit deal.
"With my team we had to analyse the deal as it came in at speed, prepare and deliver a live statement at speed on one of the most important issues for our country in recent years.
"That's what I was doing. What were they doing? Suitcases of food into Downing Street, partying and fighting, vomiting up the walls, leaving the cleaner to remove red wine stains.
"That's the difference - I was working, they were partying."
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