Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russia leaves intergovernmental agreement with countries of Euro-Arctic region on cooperation in emergency prevention and response: Moscow
PIJ: These reports aim to sow discord and incite against our Palestinian people and the camps
PIJ: We deny reports that the movement is strengthening its capabilities in Syria
Taiwan’s President: Taiwan will adopt a self-defense strategy to confront China’s threats.
Taiwan’s President: “One country, two regimes” is a red line for Taiwan.
Taiwan’s President: Beijing continues to increase military drills and gray zone harassment near Taiwan.
Palestinian sources: Apache helicopters open fire over Tubas in northern West Bank.
No specific date for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump says.
Witkoff will meet Putin in Moscow next week, Trump says
Trump: The 28-point plan for Ukraine is but a map.

Johnson refuses to say whether he will resign over Partygate

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Apr 2022 18:25
4 Min Read

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refuses to comment on whether he would resign over violating COVID-19 lockdowns to party, though his allies stress that he would not resign over getting fined.

  • x
  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to circumvent questions he was asked about the future of his leadership following his fining over partying in Downing Street after London imposed harsh COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions at the height of the pandemic in the country.

A former minister said Johnson should consider his position, and this was accompanied by a third of MPs from Boris Johnson's party going public with their concerns over the scandal the premier brought upon the Tories though breaking the law and being found guilty of doing so when the police fined him for his actions.

The conservative prime minister dodged questions about whether he had lost the moral authority to lead the country, saying he would delve into the matter in detail in the coming week.

He said he would wait for the House of Commons to return from its Easter break to convene on the matter and heart what he has to say on the matter, especially when pressed about the type of actions that would be taken against those who broke the COVID-19 rules put in place by No 10 or even if he could be looking at further fines.

Jeremy Wright, a senior Conservative Party MP, had stressed that Boris Johnson should face "resignation or removal from office" if found guilty of breaches.

"I'll be saying more when I update parliament, as you can imagine, next week. You'll probably have to wait until then for me to say more on that," Johnson told reporters at a press conference.

Justice Minister David Wolfson resigned following the fines, saying the Prime Minister's actions were "inconsistent with the rule of law."

The Tory minister said he had "no option other than to tender my resignation."

The Met police had announced their "first tranche" of penalties earlier this month, and the police refused to disclose which officials were affected by the fines that amounted to a "whopping" £50 ($65) for attending the legal gatherings. 

The Guardian, however, had reported that "the only people who will be named if fined are Johnson, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, who is also among those who filled in a police questionnaire about the alleged gatherings," and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

The day came on Tuesday when the Metropolitan police issued their second tranche of fines, and Johnson was among those fined with the low fine of £50, which also included his wife and chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Johnson's allies have downplayed the seriousness of the breach, saying he was present only for nine minutes and that it was not a planned event.

On the other hand, it is believed that Johnson has attended several gatherings and had even organized several himself, though he stressed that accepting a fine did not mean he broke the law. His allies also revealed that he would not resign were the Met to fine him.

Meanwhile, MPs from his own party are using the Partygate scandal to push Johnson out of office, with one MP noting that "if Johnson was to be fined, the threat of a no-confidence vote against the prime minister could resurface."

Home Secretary Priti Patel has grown quieter with her support for and defense of Johnson given her role as someone meant to uphold law and order, though she gave her first public comments since the issuing of the fines.

She stressed that she would not "give a running commentary as there's an investigation ongoing", but argued that Johnson had "given a very thorough and fulsome apology and should be respected for that."

  • Priti Patel
  • lockdown
  • Conservative Party
  • Tory Party
  • Partygate
  • COVID-19
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Boris Johnson
  • Downing Street

Most Read

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of commander Haitham Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 23 Nov 2025
Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham Tabatabai

  • Politics
  • 23 Nov 2025
The West delivers 1,000th military supply aircraft to 'Israel' since the Gaza genocide.

West sends 1,000th arms aircraft to 'Israel' since Gaza genocide

  • Palestine
  • 20 Nov 2025
Hezbollah releases the names of the four martyred with Tabatabai

Hezbollah releases the names of the 4 martyred alongside Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 24 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Bolsonaro begins 27-year sentence for coup plotting and conspiracy
Politics

Bolsonaro begins 27-year sentence for coup plotting, conspiracy

Maduro leads a bicentennial ceremony honoring Bolivar’s Sword of Peru.
Politics

Maduro leads bicentennial ceremony honoring Bolivar’s Sword of Peru

The Knesset advances a bill allowing Israelis to own property in the occupied West Bank.
Politics

Knesset advances bill allowing Israelis to 'own property' in West Bank

From Alps to Andes: Fast climate shifts endanger water, biodiversity
Environment

From Alps to Andes: Fast climate shifts endanger water, biodiversity

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS