The prime minister was pressured, during questions by the Communities Liaison Committee, to admit that this week’s announcement of 20 fines imposed by the Meteorological Police meant that the law had been violated. But Mr Johnson rejected SNP Pete Wisart’s efforts to force him to do so or to admit any breach of the ministerial code, telling him: “You just have to keep your horses.” Image: Boris Johnson appeared before the Liaison Committee of the Communities Earlier, a spokesman for the prime minister had apparently refused to comment on remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab, who told Sky News that the sanctions were imposed on “those who have broken the rules”. Mr Wishart told the Prime Minister: “You can at least accept that there was a crime. “Do you accept that? Twenty fixed sanctions have been issued, for good. Can there be no contradiction and no doubt about crime?” Mr Johnson replied: “I was, I hope, very honest with this House about where I think we did wrong and the things I regret, and I apologize, but there is an ongoing investigation. “I understand what you are saying, but … I was very clear that I would not comment on current comments in an ongoing investigation.” The Labor Party described as “completely unfounded” “Downing Street to refuse in any way to recognize what is a statement of fact and law” and the Liberal Democrats said the position was “absurd”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:38 Raab defends civil servants beyond the party Downing Street said it would reveal whether Johnson – or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case – was fined, but has made no such statement so far. Mr Wishart told the prime minister he would be “toasted” if given a steady penalty – but Mr Johnson again declined to comment. The prime minister also faced allegations that he had violated the ministerial code after initially telling parliament that no party rules had been violated. Subscribe to the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker During questions from the Prime Minister earlier, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said of Mr Johnson: “He told Parliament that no rules were broken on Downing Street during the lockdown. “Police have now concluded that there was widespread crime.” He said that according to the ministerial code, the ministers who knowingly mislead the House of Commons should resign and asked: “Why is he still here?”. Read more: Everything you need to know about Met’s partygate research Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:52 “Why is Boris still here?” But Mr Johnson told the selection committee: “I think it’s very important that you are clear with the House of Commons – and I have done my best to be as clear as I can about the facts.” Earlier Wednesday, Mr Raab told Sky News “there were clear things went wrong” and that the fines were for “those who violated the rules”, but said the prime minister had since revised Operation 10.
