sars said:
fined for breaking the rules of social gatherings during lockdown, where as Starmer was investigated, but no charges were brought.
With total politeness intended it is you that is missing the point, or perhaps me not making it properly.
During Covid my job was advising local Authorities in my area and businesses, on Covid Compliance. On some occasions that included Police Forces and enforcement action. The point I was trying to make was Boris accepted a fine when he did not need to, as he had a defence. (Gatherings were permitted in work bubbles for essential work). He and Rishi were attending a cabinet meeting about Covid, which I presume you accept was essential work. What was not allowed was Carrie being there, for whatever reason, but for some reason she was not fined? (He also had another get out of which he was aware but chose not to take, in that Downing Street is part of the Crown Estates, which the Act did not cover. It only covered public and private places).
Starmer was investigated as you say, and he did use the defence of essential work (He said in the MSM and in Parliament that he and the others, were campaigning in the local elections and the nearby Hartlepool by election) Durham Police mistakenly accepted this and made the announcement of NFA. I contacted the enquiry team and made them aware of the below and that they had made a mistake. They they said they agreed but they declined to reverse the decision after having already announced it. (Suspect out of embarrassment more than anything)
I invite you to use the below link and scroll down to the Section headed "Campaigning Safely from 8 March" and I recall it's about the 10th or 11th para. One line however sums it up,
"Meetings to organise and plan campaigns should be held online or over the phone. They should not take place in person".
Starmer was guilty, should therefore resigned as he promised but escaped as a result of Durham Police not reading all the legislation.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-governments-approach-to-elections-and-referendums-during-covid-19/the-governments-approach-to-elections-and-referendums-during-covid-19
Covid legislation in the main was hurried and not the easiest piece of law to follow, but this was updated a year or so in and was a lot easier.