Boris Johnson faced a renewed threat to his position over the Partygate scandal yesterday after the police decision to issue fixed penalties to 20 people for lockdown breaches appeared to shatter his claim that Covid rules were followed in No 10.
The move by the Metropolitan police was seen as clear-cut confirmation of law-breaking at the heart of government, yet Downing Street provoked fury and derision by refusing to accept the fixed-penalty notices meant the rules had definitively been broken.
On a febrile day, No 10 was also forced to back down after initially saying it would not disclose whether Simon Case, the cabinet secretary and civil service head, was one of those issued with a fixed-penalty notice. With the Met making clear this was only the first tranche of referrals – and interviews with key figures likely to take place in the coming weeks, there is still a possibility Johnson will be among those asked to pay.
The threat by some Conservative MPs to depose him has lessened in recent weeks amid the crisis in Ukraine, but confirmation of the first penalties yesterday reignited talk of a possible challenge. Rebel Tory MPs who previously organised against Johnson said they would now renew efforts to convince colleagues the PM had lied to parliament. “They’re the first proof that laws were broken, despite denials,” one said.
Rayner calls for Johnson to resign after Partygate fixed penalties
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