But the force did not name the people facing the sanctions or reveal what events they attended. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among 100 people sent official legal questionnaires about the investigation – called Operation Hillman – that began in January. A spokesman for the prime minister said Mr Johnson had not received a fine at the moment, but reiterated that Downing Street would notify him if that happened. However, the identities of the other staff members being punished may not be known – even to the public administration and Downing Street – as they will not be asked to disclose, the spokesman added. Asked about – given the Met’s findings – if the prime minister had misled the Commons when he said the regulations had not been violated, the spokesman said he had “tried at all times to emphasize an understanding of the facts”. He added that the Prime Minister “apologized for the things we did not do right” and that he is expected to say more as soon as the police investigation is completed. Read more: Everything you need to know about the partygate police investigation The “partygate” investigation covered 12 incidents where COVID restrictions may have been breached in 2020 and 2021. Labor Vice President Angela Reiner said “Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law” and that the prime minister should resign. A statement from the Met Police said: “The investigation into allegations of breach of COVID-19 in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for Final Notices (FPNs) will be made to the ACRO Criminal Record Office. “Today we will initially start sending 20 notifications of fixed sanctions that will be issued for violations of Covid-19 regulations. “The ACRO Criminal Record Office will then be responsible for issuing FPNs to the individual following referrals by the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service]. “ The Met said that with further data not yet evaluated, “further references to ACRO could be made if the probative threshold is reached”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:38 p.m. should resign “if it violated COVID rules” Legal expert Joshua Rosenberg told Sky News that the number of people fined was unknown, as “some people could receive more than one notice of fines” and that the sentencing process “could take some time”. . Labor’s Angela Rayner said: “Culture is at the top. “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.” Read more: Downing Street prepares for PM and his close circle to be among those who were fined Earlier, Ms Reiner told Sky News that “anyone in the government who decides to break his own rules”, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the prime minister, should resign if fined. Government Secretary Will Queens acknowledged that there had been “significant upheaval” over events that “should not have happened”, but was closed when asked if he believed the prime minister should resign if fined. “This is a hypothetical question, you would not expect me to answer it,” Mr Queens, who is minister for children and families, told Sky News. The Prime Minister received a questionnaire on February 11. Image: It is not yet clear whether the prime minister will receive a firm sentence notice He is believed to have watched up to six of the events under scrutiny, but it is not yet clear if he will receive a fixed penalty notice. Last week, the Met confirmed that detectives had begun questioning key witnesses for details of the questionnaire replies. The 12 events under investigation took place on eight separate dates and include a “bring your own drink” event in Downing Street Garden on May 20, 2020, hosted by Prime Minister Martin Reynolds’s chief private secretary. Another was a surprise meeting for Mr. Johnson’s birthday in the Cabinet in June 2020, which was attended by the Chancellor. Notice of fixed sentences does not constitute a criminal conviction, but can lead to a summons and prosecution if not paid. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:03 “No comment” from the minister at the partygate Several Conservative lawmakers have called for Johnson to resign over the parties, but some have changed their minds since the start of the war in Ukraine just over a month ago. Scotland Yard began its investigation after completing an internal government inquiry led by senior civil servant Sue Gray. A limited edition of her report was published in late January, but many details were removed so as not to jeopardize the police investigation. It is unclear whether the full report will be published now. Subscribe to Sunday’s Sophy Ridge podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker The prime minister’s spokesman has previously said that talks are needed “with the Met and others on what is appropriate”. According to Sky’s deputy political editor, Sam Coates, officials expect the police investigation to take a few weeks to complete – and therefore Sue Gray’s report will not be released soon.
The number 10 is supported to impose a fine on MM and the inner circle
Tamara Cohen
Political correspondent @tamcohen It may take some time to find out for sure, but the number 10 is preparing for the prime minister and his inner circle to be among those who will receive a fine. The prime minister’s allies – who have repeatedly denied that they were partying – have suggested that he claim that his home and workplace were one and the same. What does this mean for Boris Johnson? The controversy plunged him into the deepest political crisis of his prime ministership. About 14 Conservative MPs have publicly called for his resignation, and many others have expressed strong reservations. But the war in Ukraine seems to have sucked energy from the scandal. Some in the government believe that lifting restrictions on COVID nationwide has removed the heat. However, a prime minister who is even being investigated by the police is serious, being given a questionnaire equivalent to a reserved interview is unprecedented. If he is found to have violated COVID regulations, questions about his leadership are sure to come back. Even Sue Gray’s heavily crafted report sparked “leadership and crisis failures” on Downing Street. The fines issued today mark another important step in history, but it is not yet clear how it will develop and in what period of time.
title: “Partygate Met Police To Issue 20 Fines Over Downing Street Parties That Breached Lockdown Rules Politics News " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Michelle Temple”
But the force did not name the people facing the sanctions or reveal what events they attended. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among 100 people sent official legal questionnaires about the investigation – called Operation Hillman – that began in January. A spokesman for the prime minister said Mr Johnson had not received a fine at the moment, but reiterated that Downing Street would notify him if that happened. However, the identities of the other staff members being punished may not be known – even to the public administration and Downing Street – as they will not be asked to disclose, the spokesman added. Image: Downing Street will reveal if Simon Case will be fined But in a turnaround on Tuesday, Downing Street said it would reveal whether a fine would be imposed on Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. He was initially in charge of the public service investigation into the alleged violations, but turned himself in to his colleague, Sue Gray, after it was revealed that he knew about a Christmas party in his office in which he said he did not attend. The PM is not expected to be part of the initial installment of the fines Asked about – given the Met’s findings – if the prime minister had misled the Commons when he said the regulations had not been violated, the spokesman said he had “tried at all times to emphasize an understanding of the facts”. He added that the Prime Minister “apologized for the things we did not do right” and that he is expected to say more as soon as the police investigation is completed. The Press Association said Mr Johnson was not expected to be among the initial wave of fines. The “partygate” investigation involved 12 incidents where COVID restrictions may have been violated on eight dates in 2020 and 2021. Read more: Everything you need to know about the partygate police investigation Labor is calling on the prime minister to resign over a party Labor Vice President Angela Reiner said “Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law” and that the prime minister should resign. “The money stops with the Prime Minister, who has been lying to the British public for months, so he has to leave,” said Ms Reiner. “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 13:09 Denials for the No 10 parties Earlier, Ms Reiner told Sky News that “anyone in the government who decides to break his own rules”, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the prime minister, should resign if fined. Matt Hancock, the former health minister, said: “Group No. 10 has said that if such a statement is issued to the prime minister, then they will make it public.” Asked if this would mean he had broken the law, Mr Hancock told Sky News: “The point is that this issue has been largely overcome. people when I faced such accusations “. “Act of fraudsters” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davy has accused Johnson of “trying to get expensive lawyers to hide behind” in what he described as an “act of fraud”. “It’s terrible that he throws junior staff at the wolves and lets them rap while he does not. It again shows a lack of moral courage and leadership,” Sir Ed told Sky News. A statement from the Met Police said: “The investigation into allegations of breach of COVID-19 in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for Final Notices (FPNs) will be made to the ACRO Criminal Record Office. “Today we will initially start sending 20 notifications of fixed sanctions that will be issued for violations of Covid-19 regulations. “The ACRO Criminal Record Office will then be responsible for issuing FPNs to the individual following referrals by the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service]. “ The Met said that with further data not yet evaluated, “further references to ACRO could be made if the probative threshold is reached”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:38 p.m. should resign “if it violated COVID rules” Some people could be fined more than once Legal expert Joshua Rosenberg told Sky News that the number of people fined was unknown, as “some people could receive more than one notice of fines” and that the sentencing process “could take some time”. . Read more: Downing Street prepares for PM and his close circle to be among those who were fined Mr Johnson hosted a dinner for Tory MPs at a luxury hotel in central London on Tuesday. The ministers were harassed by the families of the coronavirus victims who shouted “are we going to another party?”. Government Secretary Will Queens acknowledged that there had been “significant upheaval” over events that “should not have happened”, but was closed when asked if he believed the prime minister should resign if fined. “This is a hypothetical question, you would not expect me to answer it,” Mr Queens, who is minister for children and families, told Sky News. The Prime Minister received a questionnaire on February 11. He is believed to have watched up to six of the events under scrutiny, but it is not yet clear if he will receive a fixed penalty notice. Image: It is not yet clear whether the prime minister will receive a firm sentence notice Key witness questioned Last week, the Met confirmed that detectives had begun questioning key witnesses for details of the questionnaire replies. The 12 events under investigation took place on eight separate dates and include a “bring your own drink” event in Downing Street Garden on May 20, 2020, hosted by Prime Minister Martin Reynolds’s chief private secretary. Another was a surprise meeting for Mr. Johnson’s birthday in the Cabinet in June 2020, which was attended by the Chancellor. Notice of fixed sentences does not constitute a criminal conviction, but can lead to a summons and prosecution if not paid. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:03 “No comment” from the minister at the partygate Appeals to the prime minister to resign were withdrawn due to Ukraine Several Conservative lawmakers have called for Johnson to resign over the parties, but some have changed their minds since the start of the war in Ukraine just over a month ago. Scotland Yard began its investigation after completing an internal government inquiry led by senior civil servant Sue Gray. A limited edition of her report was published in late January, but many details were removed so as not to jeopardize the police investigation. It is unclear whether the full report will be published now. Subscribe to Sunday’s Sophy Ridge podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker The prime minister’s spokesman has previously said that talks are needed “with the Met and others on what is appropriate”. According to Sky’s deputy political editor, Sam Coates, officials expect the police investigation to take a few weeks to complete – and therefore Sue Gray’s report will not be released soon.
The number 10 is supported to impose a fine on MM and the inner circle
Tamara Cohen
Political correspondent @tamcohen It may take some time to find out for sure, but the number 10 is preparing for the prime minister and his inner circle to be among those who will receive a fine. The prime minister’s allies – who have repeatedly denied that they were partying – have suggested that he claim that his home and workplace were one and the same. What does this mean for Boris Johnson? The controversy plunged him into the deepest political crisis of his prime ministership. About 14 Conservative MPs have publicly called for his resignation, and many others have expressed strong reservations. But the war in Ukraine seems to have sucked energy from the scandal. Some in the government believe that lifting restrictions on COVID nationwide has removed the heat. However, a prime minister who is even being investigated by the police is serious, being given a questionnaire equivalent to a reserved interview is unprecedented. If he is found to have violated COVID regulations, questions about his leadership are sure to come back. Even Sue Gray’s heavily crafted report sparked “leadership and crisis failures” on Downing Street. The fines issued today mark another important step in history, but it is not yet clear how it will develop and in what period of time.
