The Labor leader took on Boris Johnson for his initial response to the case when he denied that the rules had been violated. The Scotland Yard said Tuesday that it would impose 20 fixed sentences after its investigation into lockdown violations on Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020 and 2021 – and more could follow. Image: Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer also takes over as prime minister for declining living standards Speaking at the first meeting of the Prime Minister’s weekly Questions after the Met decision, Sir Keir 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.” The Labor leader said that according to the ministerial code, ministers who knowingly mislead the House of Commons should resign, and asked, “Why is he still here?” Mr Johnson responded by accusing Sir Keir – whom he called a “human weather vane” – of changing his mind about whether to resign. He added: “Of course, Met, the investigators must continue their work, but in the meantime we will continue our work.” The prime minister said that meant focusing on issues such as the cost of living, energy supply and education. Image: Mr Johnson responded by criticizing Sir Keir But the Labor leader pushed Mr Johnson further, saying: “Either he is breaking the ministerial code or he claims he has been repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he did not know what was going on in his home and in his office. “He really believes that it is a rule for him and another rule for everyone else, that he can pass crime in his office and ask others to follow the law.” Sir Keir, who also focused during the PMQs on declining living standards for British households next year amid rising inflation and rising taxes, asked: “When will the British public stop fooling themselves?” Mr Johnson responded by criticizing the Labor leader’s approaches to the lockdown and Brexit, saying it had “zero effect on any issue”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:38 Raab defends civil servants beyond the party “They want to keep people on benefits, we want to help people work and we do that in record numbers,” he said. “They want to raise taxes, we want to cut taxes – and we do.” Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab defended Downing Street staff after the announcement of the fines, saying they had come under “unbelievable pressure”. Mr. Raab told Sky News that “there were clear things that were not going well,” but said the prime minister had since revised Operation 10. He said of the prime minister’s initial statements that the rules had not been violated, that he was “telling the House of Commons and the public what he knew as best he could” at the time.
