THE “Partygate” scandal that is undermining public confidence in our democratic system should not be about party politics – it should be about what’s right and wrong.

It has been clearly established that there was a culture of partying at the heart of Government, with the Prime Minister among those fined for breaking the lockdown laws his administration had set.

So far, the Metropolitan Police has issued more than 50 fixed penalty notices for breaches of the regulations, with more to come, and the long-awaited Sue Gray independent report widely reported to be damning.

We now have confirmation that Durham Police is investigating whether Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also guilty of breaking lockdown rules. The breach is alleged to have happened in Durham MP Mary Foy’s office, last April, when he had beer and curry with colleagues in the run-up to a by-election in Hartlepool.

The Labour leader insists that no rules were broken – just as Boris Johnson had before being found guilty.

As it stands, the charges against the Labour Party are focused entirely on the alleged breach in Durham, compared to what is already established as a culture of law-breaking in and around Downing Street.

Based on what is in the public domain so far, there is a chasm between the scale of the allegations - but the principle remains.

The Prime Minister should already have fallen on his sword because his guilt – at a time when so many families were abiding by the rules amid terrible tragedy and hardship – has made him a discredited leader.

If Sir Keir Starmer is found guilty of having broken the law, he too should resign. He knows all too well that you can’t lead an opposition, demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation for breaking the law, and then continue to have any credibility if you are also found guilty of the same offence.

And there are further ‘ifs’. If Sir Keir Starmer is found guilty and does the right thing, will Boris Johnson finally see that he has only one option and quit too? And if he still refuses – as is entirely likely – will his party force him out?

My advice to Sir Keir Starmer would be to make a Commons declaration along the lines of: "I don't believe any rules were broken. However, if Durham Police conclude that there were, and I receive a fine, I will do the honourable thing - and resign."

What then for our law-breaking Prime Minister?