Both he and the Minister of Economy, Rishi Sunakwere fined last month for a gathering in his office to celebrate his 56th birthday in June 2020, when social gatherings were all but banned. His spokesman said he had not received any more fines.
Boris Johnson initially said that there were no illegal parties and that all rules had been respected. but ever since has offered a series of “humble” apologiesthough he has rejected calls for him to resign and has denied knowingly committing any wrongdoing.
Police said their investigation, in which officers examined 510 photos and 345 documents, had concluded.
Of the 126 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued, 83 individuals were fined: 53 to 35 men and 73 to 48 women.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman said police had confirmed the prime minister would not receive any further fines.
“The prime minister is glad that the investigation has been concluded and wants to thank the police for their work,” he added.
Johnson’s wife, Carrie, who was also fined for Johnson’s birthday party, will also receive no further penalties.
The police said that the fines related to eight dates of events at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office between May 2020 and April 2021, when confinement measures were applied to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
These included Downing Street garden gatherings, an online Christmas quiz and farewell events for staff.
Some of the parties took place as lockdown measures forced restaurants, pubs and businesses to close, and gatherings with friends and family, including for funerals, were severely restricted. Some 180,000 people have died in the UK from Covid-9, the seventh highest figure by country in the world
Keir Starmerleader of the opposition Labor Party, reiterated his demand that Boris Johnson resign.
“After an investigation showing over 120 breaches of the law in Downing Street, of course I should resign,” he said.
Starmer is facing a police investigation into a possible breach of the confinement law over footage from April 2021 of him drinking a bottle of beer with colleagues in an enclosed space during a visit to north-east England.
He has said he will resign if he receives a fine.
The end of the police investigation will not be the end of the matter for Boris Johnson.
Opponents accuse him of having lied to Parliament about the meetings and the Privileges Commission is investigating whether he misled lawmakers.
However, the conclusions of an internal report by high-ranking official Sue Gray could be more damaging. Her interim findings, released in January, indicate that events involving alcohol were held at Johnson’s offices and residence and that there were “serious leadership failures.”
A Cabinet Office source said it would be published next week.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
