UK police fining 20 people over Covid breaches, "Partygate" resurfaces

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's partygate scandal is surfacing again after the Metropolitan police's decision to fine 20 people from Downing Street over Covid lockdown breaches.

According to The Guardian, "Downing Street provoked fury and derision by refusing to accept that the fixed-penalty notices meant the rules had definitively been broken."

The website highlighted that there is a possibility that Johnson would be among those fined over breaches. This comes as The Guardian noted that calls for unseating the prime minister "has lessened in recent weeks amid the crisis in Ukraine, but confirmation of the first penalties on Tuesday reignited talk of a possible challenge."

No-confidence vote could resurface

One rebel Conservative Party MP noted that "if Johnson was to be fined, the threat of a no-confidence vote against the prime minister could resurface," the newspaper reported.

It is noteworthy that several Conservative Party MPs have delined a dinner invitation by the PM, while those who showed up, such as Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg, were booed by families of Covid victims as they arrived at the Park Plaza where the dinner was held.

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

Those fined will not be named

The Metropolitan police confirmed that those fined will not be named due to professional practice guidance. Downing Street said it does not know the identities of the 20 people set to be fined.

The Guardian pointed out 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.

Johnson attended 6 out of 12 events police are investigating

In the same context, Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, considered that "any decision-maker and senior official who is handed a fixed-penalty notice for attending a party must have their name published.”

It is noteworthy that UK Prime Minister Boris Johson is said to have attended six out of the 12 events the police are investigating.