A leading expert on Covid laws has questioned the “inconsistency” of the Metropolitan Police fines handed out to Downing Street staff while Boris Johnson escaped further punishment.
Scotland Yard announced 126 fines had been given out over eight events as its Partygate probe came to an end.
Both the prime minister and his wife Carrie Johnson previously received £50 fixed penalty notices in relation to a 56th birthday party held for Mr Johnson in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.
But the PM’s official spokesperson confirmed Mr Johnson had been told by police he would receive no further penalties, and The Independent understands the same assurance has been given to Ms johnson.
Junior staff at No 10 are reportedly angry at being given fixed penalty notices – in some cases receiving multiple fines – while the PM and other senior figures avoided fresh action.
Describing the outcome of the Partygate inquiry as a “bit odd”, barrister Adam Wagner said it appeared that Mr Johnson had avoided fines despite attending illegal leaving drink events.
UK threat of unilateral action over Northern Ireland could ‘nix’ Brexit agreement, EU ambassador warns
The EU’s Brexit negotiators have been given a firm instruction from the 27 member states that there can be no change in their mandate and no renegotiation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Brussels’ ambassador to London has revealed.
João Vale de Almeida said no “credible alternative” to the protocol had been identified and warned that unilateral UK action to override it could “nix” the agreement altogether.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the full story:
EU ambassador warns unilateral action over Northern Ireland Protocol will provoke response from Brussels
The EU’s ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida warned unilateral action by Boris Johnson’s government over the Northern Ireland Protocol would provoke a response from Brussels.
“There is still potential in the proposals that we’ve made, we would like to focus on that instead of going unilateral,” he said.
“Unilateral calls for unilateral. Action calls for reaction.
“And is that what we want, an escalation around Northern Ireland at this present point in time? I don’t think so.”
Starmer condemns ‘industrial scale lawbreaking’ at No 10
Sir Keir Starmer is standing by his call for Boris Johnson to resign, as he condemned the PM for setting a culture of “industrial-scale law-breaking” in No 10.
The Labour leader told reporters in Leeds: “What I want to see now is the full Sue Gray report published, there’s no further hiding places for the prime minister on that.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said it “beggars belief that Conservative MPs are allowing our great country to be run by a prime minister who broke the law then repeatedly lied about it”.
Time to ‘move on’ from Partygate, says Home Office minister
Home Office minister Kit Malthouse has said it is time to “move on” from Partygate.
“I’m pleased that it’s done, thankful to the police for conducting themselves efficiently,” he told the BBC’s World at One.
“I hope now we can now move on to the really pressing issues.”
Asked if understood why the PM received only one fine, Malthouse said: “You’d have to discuss that with the police. My job is to look at the results and be relieved that it’s done, and get on with the really important stuff that we need to focus on.”
Meanwhile, environment secretary George Eustice told the BBC: “The prime minister has apologised for everything that’s happened at No 10.
“Obviously there’s been a very thorough investigation and rightly so. There were failings, and we acknowledge that. We acknowledge the angry that some people will feel.”
Legal expert questions ‘odd’ fines for junior No 10 staff while PM escapes
A leading expert on Covid laws has questioned the “inconsistency” of the Metropolitan Police fines handed out to Downing Street staff while Boris Johnson escaped further punishment.
Junior staff at No 10 are reportedly angry at being given fixed penalty notices – in some cases receiving multiple fines – while the PM and other senior figures avoided fresh action from Scotland Yard.
My colleague Adam Forrest has the full story:
Police ‘rightly able to use their discretion’ over shoplifters stealing food out of desperation, says No 10
Downing Street said the law does need to be enforced, but police officers are “rightly able to use their discretion”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked for Boris Johnson’s view on officers turning a blind eye to shoplifters stealing food out of desperation, after a police watchdog suggested discretion should be used during the cost-of-living crisis.
He replied: “I think that the police minister talked about this this morning. Obviously the law does need to be enforced. At the same time police officers are rightly able to use their discretion.”
Beyond that, he said he would not seek to say anything that could be perceived as treading on the police’s operational independence.
Pressed on whether that meant police should be able to turn a blind eye in some cases, he said: “I’m just talking in broad terms about the long-standing principle where police officers are able to use discretion.
“But I think you’ll know the policing minister challenged the premise of this question this morning … the financial pressures people (are) facing don’t necessarily mean they are going to turn to crime.”
Boris Johnson raises ‘significant concerns’ with Ukrainian president about rising food prices
Boris Johnson has raised “significant concerns” with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about rising food prices linked to the Russian invasion.
In a call this morning, the pair looked at options to “open up critical sea and land supply routes for Ukrainian grain stocks”, and committed to directing their teams to “work urgently on the next steps”, Downing Street said.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to Ukrainian president Zelensky today to discuss a range of issues, including military support and global food security.
“The prime minister raised his significant concerns about the growing global fallout from Russia’s illegal invasion and president (Vladimir) Putin’s craven and reckless blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including rising food prices in developing countries.
“They looked at options to open up critical sea and land supply routes for Ukrainian grain stocks, and committed to direct their teams to work urgently on the next steps.”
The PM also stressed his “undimmed admiration for the brave defenders of Mariupol” and urged Russia to treat any prisoners of war with dignity and respect, No 10 said.
Policing minister deflects questions about why Boris Johnson only received one fine
Policing minister Kit Malthouse deflected questions to Scotland Yard when asked how Boris Johnson received only one fine despite reportedly being at multiple events.
Mr Malthouse told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “You’d have to discuss that with the police.
“My job is to look at the results and be relieved that it’s done and get on with the really important stuff that we need to focus on.”
Downing Street ‘not aware’ of any more fines for ministers
The prime minister’s spokesman said he was not aware of any other ministers implicated in the Partygate scandal.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been dealt one fine each, both of which have been paid.
As the Met ended its investigation today, the prime minister was spared another fine. It is understood the chancellor was also yet to be fined again.
Asked if any other government ministers will confirm to MPs if they have been fined over the scandal, the PM’s spokesman said: “Our commitment is to update with regards to the prime minister and the cabinet secretary, as I have done.
“I’m certainly not aware of any other ministers who would be involved in this. But that’s our commitment, as before.”
Boris Johnson will address Commons on Sue Gray report – No 10
Downing Street said the prime minister will update parliament when the Sue Gray report is published.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “I would say the prime minister is pleased the investigation has concluded and we’d like to thank the Met Police for their work in bringing this investigation to completion.
“Beyond that … I think the prime minister will update parliament in the first instance on the publication, once Sue Gray’s report is published, and that’s when he will talk in more detail. So beyond that I wouldn’t be going into more detail.”
Ms Gray’s report into Partygate could be published as soon as next week, a source close to her team told The Independent after the conclusion of the Met’s investigation.
A version of the report was published in January but it was heavily redacted to avoid interfering with the police investigation.
