ITV News UK editor Paul Brand says the Prime Minister and the Chancellor partying through lockdown measures is no longer a claim – it is a fact
The prime minister and his wife, Carrie Johnson, have apologized and paid 50 50 fines for violating Covid rules by attending the prime minister’s birthday party on Downing Street, Boris Johnson has confirmed.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also spoke on Tuesday night, saying he had also paid his fine to the Metropolitan Police. Mr Sunak apologized “unequivocally” and indicated that he would remain in office.
The fines are related to a birthday party attended by all three on June 19, 2020 – a party first reported by ITV News in January.
What did the trio say about the fines?
Mr Johnson apologized but added: “In all honesty at the time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules.”
After being fined, he “now humbly admits” that he violated the laws of Covid-19.
Many of his critics say the police fine shows that he misled Parliament by claiming that all instructions to Covid were kept on Downing Street during the pandemic and that he should resign under the ministerial code.
See in detail the reaction of the prime minister to his fine party:
However, Mr Johnson said he “spoke in good faith” because it had not crossed his mind when addressing lawmakers on December 8 for separate allegations by the party that “I had broken the rules”.
“I think the best thing I can do now is, after settling the fine, to focus on the job I have,” he said.
Ms Johnson also apologized, with her spokeswoman saying she “unreservedly apologized” for participating in the rally, despite believing she “acted according to the rules at the time”.
Mr Sunak said: “I understand that for people in public office, the rules must be strictly enforced in order to maintain public confidence. I respect the decision that was made and I paid the fine.
“I know people have sacrificed a lot during Covid and they will find this situation upset. I’m deeply sorry for the frustration and anger that has been caused and I’m sorry. “
The fines were paid at a reduced rate of 50 £, from 100 επειδή, because they were paid within 14 days.
How did the deputies react to the fines?
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer called on Johnson and the chancellor to step down, saying the police fines proved “a breach of the law and have repeatedly lied to the British public”.
He told television stations that Mr Johnson’s fine marked “the first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be breaking the law”.
Many of the former prime minister’s critics have remained silent since the news of his fine, with some saying they would not comment on the war in Ukraine or the full police investigation.
Culture Minister Nandin Doris, one of Johnson’s most ardent supporters, said on Tuesday that the prime minister had attended the birthday party for “less than 10 minutes on a busy working day”.
Met Police previously reported that the event took place between 14:00 and 15:00.
The partygate schedule – from 2021 until today
Foreign Minister Liz Tras also spoke in favor of the prime minister and Mr Sunak – she wrote on Twitter that the couple had her full support.
“The prime minister has apologized and taken responsibility for what happened on Downing Street,” he wrote.
Sir Roger Gale, who was the first Tory MP to publicly reveal that he had written a letter of no confidence to Mr Johnson, said the prime minister had “misled Parliament”. [of Commons]”.
He did, however, call for his resignation, citing the crisis in Ukraine as a reason not to force a change of government at this time.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Anushka Asthana on how MPs reacted to the fines
Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford said Johnson and Sunak “must resign now” as they “offended the millions of people who followed the rules they set.”
However, Scottish leader Tory Douglas Ross said it “would not be right” for the prime minister to step down during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Labor, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have called for the ousting of Parliament – which is on hold this Easter – for Boris Johnson to face lawmakers over the fines.
However, Labor acknowledged that only the government had the power to ask the president to dissolve parliament.
Could the prime minister be removed?
The prime minister could oust his party if at least 53 of its deputies submit letters of rebuke to his leadership of the 1922 Commission, which represents the Tories.
If the committee receives 53 letters and letters of confidence from the committee, a secret ballot will be activated, giving Members the opportunity to support or oust the leader.
If more than 50% of Tory MPs then vote to remove him, he will lose the role of party leader and new leadership elections will follow.
“This is the first time that a British Prime Minister has been found to have broken the law”: British publisher Paul Bradt thinks about an unprecedented day for politics
If he wins more than half the votes, then he will remain the party leader and will be given one year immunity from any further vote of confidence.
An alternative path could lead to a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson in the House of Commons at the opposition table, but that would require the support of a majority of MPs, and this is rather unlikely given the vast majority of Tories.
ITV News UK editor Paul Brand said the initial sentiment among Tory shareholders was that the prime minister would “survive” because he believed “there was not enough momentum at the moment to remove him from the leadership”.
Johnson’s time as prime minister seemed to hang in the balance when police first announced they were investigating the partygate, but pressure for his resignation appears to have been temporarily halted by the war in Ukraine.
However, now that the Prime Minister has been fined – an unprecedented situation – it is very likely that he will again face calls to leave his own party.
What will follow for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor? Political author Robert Peston explains
He is one of at least 100 people being investigated by officers investigating allegations of widespread breach of Covid rules by the government, with 12 facts being investigated.
The prime minister is said to have attended at least six of the rallies – which took place in various lockdowns – but his excuse is that his presence has always been part of his working day.
UK author Paul Brand says the occurrence of more than 50 Covid infringements makes Whitehall one of the top coronavirus offenders in the UK.
How did the public react to the fines? ITV News reporter Hannah Miller explores
The identities of the individuals who issued the FPN have not been made public by the Met, nor has the fact about the fine.
In a statement informing the public about Operation Hillman – as the partygate investigation is known – the Met said it was continuing to examine the evidence and further fines could be imposed.
He said: “We are making every effort to move this research forward quickly, this includes continuing to evaluate significant amounts of research material from which further referrals to ACRO may be made.”
The ACRO Criminal Record Office will accept referrals and is responsible for issuing fines.
Police said the first 20 fines were issued two weeks ago and the prime minister has since refused to admit that they showed the rules had been violated on Downing Street.
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