Johnson’s Downing Street lockdown parties to be investigated
3 Min Read
Common penalty for Covid-19 rule violations has been fixed penalty notices in the UK, but what will happen when the violator is the country’s Prime Minister?
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (EPA)
In a surprising development for UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Metropolitan Police have an investigation into his illegal parties which were held in No 10, while the country was under a COVID-19 lockdown with a severe ban on indoor gatherings.
On her account, Commissioner Cressida Dick stressed that they were observing "potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations" in Downing Street and Whitehall since 2020.
The probe was initiated, she added, as a "result of the material presented by the Cabinet Office investigative team," which is chaired by civil servant Sue Gray.
Johnson the "uncivil" servant
Met police chief Dame Cressida Dick made it clear that "the fact that we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved."
The most common penalty for COVID-19 rule violations has been fixed penalty notices. They were £60 fines at the outset of the pandemic, which may be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days.
In May 2020, it was raised to £100, then to £200 later that year, both of which were reduced if paid timely.
It increased to £800 for those attending gatherings of more than 15 persons and £10,000 for those organizing them in January 2021.
For repeat offenses, fines could be doubled.
The situation might also escalate if people refuse to pay fines and instead request a hearing in a magistrates court
Birthday celebration renews calls for UK’s Johnson resignation
Following claims that he celebrated his birthday inside his official residence in Downing Street on June 19, 2020, while the country was under a COVID-19 lockdown with a severe ban on indoor gatherings, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces new calls to resign.
Labour lawmaker and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told Sky News that “We can't have a country where anyone is above the law, but in this case, the Prime Minister should just resign, move aside, and leave."
Lammy recalled that at the time Johnson purportedly attended the event prepared by his staff to celebrate his birthday, the regulations were explicit that no more than two persons could congregate indoors. Resign, take a step back, and leave."
“Why was there one rule for young people across the country who couldn't have birthday parties, for our own Queen and sovereign who couldn't have a birthday party, but a different situation for Boris Johnson?" he asked.
Johnson has been at the center of a series of scandals recently, and last month a poll was released with a majority of respondents believing he should quit. He might soon be facing a vote of no confidence from his own party once the Sue Gray report is published.
According to political pundits, there has been rising dissatisfaction with Johnson's leadership among Conservative lawmakers, and scores are anticipated to vote against his idea for new steps to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.
