Mr Johnson is expected to be questioned over the Russian war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis when he addresses top lawmakers on the Communities Liaison Committee at 3pm on Wednesday. It is also likely to face further questions about the “partygate”, as the Metropolitan Police announced the first 20 fines for parties breaking the lockdown on Downing Street and Whitehall. Read more: Everything you need to know about Met’s partygate research Downing Street continued to deny that Mr Johnson had misled the Commons when he told lawmakers that the COVID regulations had not been violated at No. 10. The prime minister is believed to have watched up to six of the 12 alleged lockdown incidents being investigated by Scotland Yard. “Slap on millions” Labor deputy leader Angela Reiner said “Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law” as she urged him to resign. “Culture is at the top,” he said. “The money stops with the prime minister, who spent months lying to the British public, so he has to leave. “This was a slap in the face to the millions of people who made enormous sacrifices.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:43 Angela Rainer: Johnson’s position is “unfounded” Ms Reiner told Sky News that “anyone in the government who decides to break their own rules”, including Chancellor Richie Sunak and Mr Johnson, should resign if fined. The war changed its mind A total of 14 Conservative MPs have publicly called for Johnson to resign over the partygate scandal, and many others have expressed strong private reservations, but many have rejected the comments since the war in Ukraine began almost five weeks ago. Sir Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Tories committee on the liaison committee, was forced to leave the meeting on Tuesday following a COVID infection. Instead, the committee will appoint an acting chairman. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 13:09 Denials for the No 10 parties The committee, made up of chairmen of various select committees, is also expected to ask Mr Johnson about the cost-of-living crisis and Russia’s war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Mr Johnson told his cabinet that there were no “easy answers” to resolving the cost-of-living crisis caused by rising energy bills and rising prices for a generation. . Mr Johnson also pledged to “coordinate closely” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, as he reiterated the United Kingdom ‘s commitment to stepping up financial pressure on Moscow. It will be the first time Mr Johnson has dealt with the commission since the partygate scandal gained momentum. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:26 Patterson had “broken the rules” – PM His appearance in November was dominated by questions about former Tories Secretary Owen Patterson, who was at the center of a Westminster riot last year. Mr Johnson acknowledged that Patterson had broken the rules of the lobby, despite the fact that the Prime Minister encouraged an attempt to save Mr Patterson from the suspension of the House of Commons two weeks earlier.
