Boris Johnson to be fined over lockdown parties
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to be personally fined over parties held in violation of COVID-19 lockdown rules.
A government spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that Johnson and Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer, have been notified "that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices," The Guardian reports. It wasn't immediately clear what the fines would be.
Earlier this year, Johson apologized as a series of reports detailed gatherings held by the U.K. government allegedly in violation of COVID-19 restrictions, including one in the garden of 10 Downing Street that Johnson briefly attended in May 2020. "I know that people up and down the country have made huge sacrifices throughout this pandemic, and I understand the anger, the rage that they feel at the thought that people in Downing Street were not following those rules," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In January, London's Metropolitan Police said they were investigating the series of parties "in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations." The investigation is continuing as of Tuesday and has made "over 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices" thus far, according to The New York Times. The Times noted this fine will make Johnson the "first holder of his office to be found breaking the law in living memory."
Johnson faced calls to resign when the lockdown parties were initially revealed, and some critics reiterated those calls on Tuesday. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer tweeted that Johnson and Sunak "have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public" and "must both resign," adding, "Britain deserves better."
Civil servant Sue Gray, who was tasked with investigating the lockdown parties, previously criticized Johnson's government for "failures of leadership and judgment," concluding, "Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why au pairs might become a thing of the past
Under The Radar Brexit and wage ruling are threatening the 'mutually beneficial arrangement'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published