U.K. police say they are now investigating lockdown parties at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office

Protest in London
(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

London's Metropolitan Police said Tuesday that there is an investigation underway into a series of parties at No. 10 Downing Street while the rest of London and Britain was under government-ordered COVID-19 lockdown. The investigation is another blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and comes amid new allegations that Johnson and his staff gathered in his Downing Street office to celebrate his birthday in June 2020, during the first lockdown.

Until now, Scotland Yard had left the "partygate" inquiry to a Cabinet Office investigation being led by senior civil servant Sue Gray. Based on information from Gray's investigation and "my officers' own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations," Met Commissioner Cressida Dick told the London Assembly on Tuesday.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.