Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being urged to resign as The Metropolitan Police issues fines linked to gatherings held at government buildings during the pandemic.
Boris Johnson is facing further calls to resign, after the Met Police confirmed it will issue around 20 fines to unnamed people, who breached lockdown rules for parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Mr Johnson was among 100 people who were sent formal legal questionnaires relating to the investigation (Operation Hillman) which was launched in January.
A spokesman for the PM said Mr Johnson had not received a fine at this time but reiterated that Downing Street would make it known if that were to happen.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said “Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law” and that the PM must resign.
“The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he’s got to go […] This has been a slap in the face of the millions of people who made huge sacrifices,” she added.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Mr Johnson of “trying to get expensive lawyers to hide behind” in what he described as “the act of a scoundrel”.
“It’s terrible that he is throwing junior staff to the wolves and letting them take the rap when he himself won’t. That again shows a lack of moral courage and leadership,” Sir Ed told Sky News.
A Met Police statement said: “The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) will be made to ACRO Criminal Records Office.
“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations.
“The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service].”
The Met said that with further evidence still to be assessed, “further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made”.
