Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to be fined for attending lockdown-breaking parties
Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images
- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be fined for attending parties that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules.
- Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Carrie Johnson, the PM's wife, will also be fined.
- UK police have been investigating 12 events held by government officials that may have broken the rules.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are due to be fined for attending parties that breached the UK's COVID-19 lockdown rules at the time.
The London Metropolitan Police have been investigating 12 events held by government officials that may have broken the rules, known as "partygate."
The events under investigation include a garden party at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's office, and a gathering in 11 Downing Street, the prime minister's residence.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The prime minister and chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices. We have no further details, but we will update you again when we do."
Carrie Johnson, the prime minister's wife — who was photographed at the Downing Street garden party — will also be fined, her spokesperson said.
Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/Handout via REUTERS
News of the fines, or fixed penalty notices, came during parliament's Easter recess. MPs are due to return on April 19.
The government said 39 times that no rules had been broken within the first two weeks after the first allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street.
A senior Conservative MP, who was given anonymity to speak frankly, swore upon being told of the news by Insider.
Afterwards, they said: "Gosh. Wow. I am extraordinarily pissed off about that. I'll get over it eventually.
"But given all the pain so many people went through and the continuing fallout of lockdown on people's wellbeing, right now, forgiveness is not high up on the list of emotions."
Asked if Johnson and Sunak should resign as a result of receiving the fines, the MP said: "Whether they stay or go is a decision for them to make. We are all responsible for our own actions."
The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said: "Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign.
"The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better."
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for Parliament to be recalled from its Easter recess for a vote of no confidence.
Davey said: "The country cannot have criminals and liars leading our Government, especially at a time of national and international crisis.
"Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak took the country's sacrifices for granted, while they broke the law to party in Downing Street. They are not fit to hold office. If they had a shred of decency, they would resign.
"Parliament should be recalled immediately so that MPs can hold a vote of no confidence. Conservative MPs must do their patriotic duty and kick these criminals out of Government once and for all."
Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images
'Failures of leadership'
No sitting prime minister has been found guilty of breaking the law before.
Partygate has dealt a big blow to Johnson's government, with a report published in January finding that "failures of leadership and judgment" enabled the culture of drinking and partying under him.
As of Tuesday, the Met has issued a total of 50 fines, The Guardian reported. The force issued 20 fines in late March and 30 more on Tuesday.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case — who was forced to recuse himself from leading an investigation into the gatherings after it emerged that a Christmas quiz was held at his department — has not received a fine, a Cabinet Office spokesperson told Insider.
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