Politics
UK, Boris Johnson: Countless Punches At The PM, Will He Survive The Avalanche Of Accusations?
May 4, 2022
April 12, 2022
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be fined by the police for breaking lockdown laws. The PM's wife, Carrie Johnson, will also be given a fixed penalty notice.
Officials confirmed the three had received notification of the fines from the Met, following an investigation into illegal parties in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns.
Spokespeople for the Johnsons and Mr Sunak said they had not been told which event the fines were linked to. However, the three were reported to be at the same gathering for the PM's birthday in June 2020.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak must resign.
A spokeswoman for the Covid Bereaved Families, Lobby Akinnola, said it was "unbelievably painful" to know such senior members of government attended parties while they were unable to be with their dying loved ones.
The Green Party echoed the call, with co-leader Adrian Ramsay saying the fines were "a damning indictment of the reckless culture of a Conservative Party and prime minister that consider themselves untouchable".
And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for Parliament - which is currently on its Easter recess - to be recalled to hold a no confidence vote in the prime minister.
What are the allegations?
Reports of parties being held in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 first emerged in December last year. Mr. Johnson initially insisted that "guidelines were followed at all times".
Mr Sunak was also asked in the Commons December if he attended Christmas parties said to have taken place in 2020. He replied: "No, I did not attend any parties."
Mr. Johnson ordered an inquiry into the allegations of rule-breaking, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray. The Met initially said it would not investigate the allegations but changed its mind when Ms Gray passed information to officers.
Ms Gray released an interim report, stating there had been a "failure of leadership" in Downing Street.But her full report will not be released until the Met have concluded their inquiries.
Those Issued fines
Among those already issued fines is the government's former head of ethics Helen MacNamara, who received a fixed-penalty notice for attending a leaving party in the Cabinet Office in June 2020.
Ms MacNamara - who is now the Premier League's director of policy - said she apologised for "the error of judgement I have shown".
Sources have told the BBC that some fines had been given to people who attended a leaving party in Downing Street on 16 April 2021 - the eve of Prince Philip's funeral.
Those who receive fines can either pay within 28 days or contest the police decision.
If they contest the fine, police will review the case and then either withdraw the penalty or take the matter to court.
Fines for the prime minister and the chancellor fro breaking the rules their government set - case closed
As far as opposition parties are concerned, yes.
If their instinct is to find a way through, they'll be helped by the fact that Parliament isn't sitting and Conservative MPs are less likely to get together and decide it's time for change at the top.
Both may choose to wait for Sue Gray to publish the findings of her report in full for the final word on the "partygate" saga.They may also appeal against their fines or simply calculate that they can take the political hit and survive.
It's a time for cool heads and calculations in No 10 and 11 Downing Street - a day when reputations, already damaged, may be defined.
SOURCE: BBC
IMAGE SOURCE: CNBC
