March 30, 2022
2 mins read

Met issues first 20 fines in ‘Partygate’ probe

The Met’s statement on the first tranche of fines has once again prompted leaders of opposition parties to renew calls for Johnson’s resignation…reports Asian Lite News

British police said on Tuesday that they would issue 20 fixed penalty notices (FPN) over breaches of coronavirus lockdown rules at gatherings in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s offices and residence at Downing Street.

“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of COVID-19 regulations. The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS,” the Metropolitan Police Service (Met) said in a statement.

The Met didn’t disclose the names of the individuals being fined and added that they would not confirm the number of referrals from each individual event subject to their investigation as “providing a breakdown at this point may lead to the identification of the individuals.”

Parties held at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021 have enraged the British public who were asked to follow coronavirus restrictions for many months over the past two years to curb the spread of COVID-19. Johnson’s premiership has been precarious following the revelation of these illicit gatherings, with calls from opposition parties and even members of his own Conservative Party for him to resign.

The Met launched an investigation at the end of January into 12 alleged events that include a boozy garden party on May 20, 2020, during the country’s first COVID-19 lockdown, which Johnson said he mistook for a work event, as well as a birthday party given to him on June 19, 2020.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray, who led a separate Whitehall probe into the allegations, said in a report released on Jan. 31 that there were “failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No. 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times.”

The Met’s statement on the first tranche of fines has once again prompted leaders of opposition parties to renew calls for Johnson’s resignation.

“After over two months of police time, 12 parties investigated and over 100 people questioned under caution, Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law,” said Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the main opposition Labour Party, in a statement.

“The culture is set from the very top. The buck stops with the prime minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he has got to go,” she said.

“We all know who is responsible. The prime minister must resign, or Conservative MPs must sack him,” Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said in a statement. (ANI/Xinhua)

ALSO READ-Boris brings in new staffers to move past ‘partygate’ scandal

Previous Story

LFW: Bevy of beauties making the runways shine

Next Story

LFW 2022: Day 4 on traditional silhouettes vs modern ensembles

Latest from -Top News

Iran Threatens ‘Everlasting’ Payback

Araghchi’s strong response followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement late Saturday that the United States had struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites in a joint operation with Israel….reports Asian Lite

Japan Cancels U.S. Talks

The cancellation also coincides with Japan’s upcoming upper house elections on July 20, which are expected to test Ishiba’s fragile minority coalition Japan has cancelled a planned high-level security meeting with the

IAEA sounds nuclear alarm in Iran

UN nuclear watchdog urges restraint, calls for diplomacy to prevent crisis. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a stark warning about the potential nuclear fallout

Trump says it’s hard to tell Israel to stop

President downplays European diplomacy as Israeli jets strike over 35 Iranian missile sites US President Donald Trump has said it would be “difficult” to ask Israel to stop its ongoing airstrikes on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Anger as Boris escapes Partygate with 1 fine

While the force does not reveal the identity of those

Johnson grilled over lockdown-era parties

The ex-PM accepted that he misled the Commons but denies