Grand Saps, the transport secretary, was sent to defend the prime minister after Johnson and Chancellor Risi Sunak received warnings with fixed sentences from the police. He said the prime minister was sorry, but continued to downplay the fact that Johnson had just “entered a room” where people were gathered to wish him happy birthday for 10 minutes. Shapps insisted that Johnson acted “without malice” and did not “knowingly break the law.” The cabinet minister said he was just meeting other people he had seen for work earlier in the day – although this contradicts reports that Lulu Lytle’s interior designer, who was doing renovations at No. 10, was also present. Johnson’s wife, Carrie, who was also present and fined, apologized. Speaking on BBC Radio 4 today, Shapps urged people to “judge him in their entirety” and look at Johnson’s background on Covid, his approach to the war and Ukraine’s economy. Asked how he did not think the prime minister was breaking the rules, Saps told BBC Breakfast: “I do not want to say anything other than that it is deeply disappointing. Of course, it had to be done. “I think that in answer to your question, in particular, he would have already been in that room with the same people that day presiding over crisis meetings for the biggest pandemic in the world for more than 100 years. “And he suddenly enters the same room with the people who wished him happy birthday on this occasion. “And this is of course the thing that violated the law, and the police decided and paid the pre-determined fine of 50 pounds and apologized.” Johnson and Sunak are believed to be the first incumbent prime minister and chancellor to be sentenced. Both high-ranking politicians were also accused of misleading parliament by previously denying attending a party during the lockdown. Labor leader Kir Starmer also called on the “culprits”, Johnson and Sunak, to resign because they “dishonored their offices”. He said Johnson “repeatedly lied to the public” and his behavior was a “slap in the face” to anyone who followed the rules. “They have to leave,” he said. Labor and the Liberal Democrats have called for parliament to be called off to discuss sanctions, but this is likely to be blocked by the government. The announcements brought Johnson’s leadership into new trouble, although allies such as Nandin Doris and Conor Burns rallied around him in messages of support. Liz Tras, the secretary of state and potential future candidate for the presidency, also issued a statement in support, saying Johnson “apologized and took responsibility for what happened on Downing Street.” “He and the Chancellor have a lot to offer Britain on many fronts, including the international security crisis we are facing. “They have my 100% support,” he said. Some Conservative lawmakers have previously suggested that a line be crossed allowing a prime minister to remain in office if found guilty of breaking the law. About 20-30 lawmakers were once thought to have submitted letters of no confidence to the prime minister, while 54 were needed to provoke a leadership challenge. However, many of those who had previously written letters of rebuke – Sir Roger Gale, Andrew Bridget and Douglas Ross – said now was not the time to change leadership given the instability caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
