British Banter

Will the Metropolitan Police, in issuing fines to Boris mean that they bankrupt him ???


Partygate: Met Police issues 20 fines for lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall

Yahoo News UK
Kate Buck
29 March 2022, 9:22 am

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 15, 2022: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson steps out from 10 Downing Street to welcome Prime Minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson (not pictured) ahead of their meeting on March 15, 2022 in London, England. Boris Johnson today hosted a summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force with leaders of Nordic and Baltic countries to discuss increasing defensive military support to Ukraine following Russian invasion, long-term energy security and cybersecurity. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson outside Downing Street. It is not known whether the prime minister is among those to have been fined. (Getty)

Twenty fixed penalty notices will be issued for breaches of COVID regulations following allegations of lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street, Scotland Yard said.

The identities of those being fined has not been made public and it is not clear how many individuals have been fined.

The fines will be referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) will be made to ACRO Criminal Records Office.

“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS.

“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.”

Watch:Boris Johnson admits he went to No10 party during lockdown

The force said it will not confirm the number of referrals made from each individual event it is investigating as providing this breakdown at this point could lead to the individuals involved being identified.

Detectives are investigating 12 events, including as many as six prime minister Boris Johnson is said to have attended.

In a statement to a packed but silent House of Commons in January, Johnson apologised for going to an event which invited people to "bring their own booze" to make the "most of the lovely weather".

He said he believed it had been a “work event”.

It was also reported a leaving party for the prime minister's former communications secretary James Slack was held, and became so raucous that a swing belonging to the PM's son Wilf was broken, and staff used a suitcase to smuggle alcohol into the building.

Johnson came under intense pressure to quit as a result of the Partygate scandal, but in recent weeks the war in Ukraine has seen MPs rally round the leader at a time of international crisis.
A light shines above the door of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's Prime Minister, in central London on January 31, 2022. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday apologised after his government was criticised for
Detectives are investigating 12 events, including as many as six Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to have attended. (Getty)

But the Met’s intervention, confirming that laws were broken at the heart of government, could reignite the debate about his leadership.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 100 questionnaires had been sent out to people at the gatherings.

They included a “bring your own booze” event, details of which were emailed to staff at No 10 by the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds in May 2020, and a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson’s birthday in June 2020.

Mr Johnson previously admitted he was at the “socially-distanced drinks” organised by Mr Reynolds for 25 minutes – claiming he believed it was a work event – while Downing Street said staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room to mark the Prime Minister’s 56th birthday.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said the partygate saga had been a “slap in the face” for the public after fixed penalty notices were issued by the Metropolitan Police.

Ms Rayner said: “After over two months of police time, 12 parties investigated and over a hundred people questioned under caution, Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law.

“The culture is set from the very top. The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he has got to go.

“It is disgraceful that while the rest of the country followed their rules, Boris Johnson’s Government acted like they did not apply to them.

“This has been a slap in the face of the millions of people who made huge sacrifices.“

 

Analytical political fines are compared to a small slap on the hand

 

Yes, but if Boris gets fined - two things:

One because of alimony being paid to ex wife and girlfriends for his 'other' children, he is almost brassic which means if the fine is big enough he could be bankrupt. A bankrupt politician cannot be Prime Minister/

Two If he does cop a fine, this will mean that he lied to Parliament, yet another absolute no, no !!!

 

Ahh so it would produce Boris being ousted of his position

Also noted having bank roll is not a requirement to become a politician ...usually a politicians money comes with the pocket lining of being elected official with the perks ..


Also noted Boris must of smoked one of Clinton’s cigars a time or two

 

I do not watch oscars I heard about the slap and today in the headlines ...Jada( will smiths wife) posted the most beautiful message ...

TIS THE SEASON FOR HEALING AND I AM HERE FOR IT

wow that made me cry a good cry ..so beautiful and such a elegant message

I love seeing nice headlines in the news of inspiration ..which is usually rare

that message should be shouted off the mountain tops

 

I am sending that message to all my friends and family today ...

 

Lying Bastard par excellence !!!




No 10 insists Johnson did not mislead MPs over partygate

Geraldine Scott
29 March 2022, 2:30 pm

Boris Johnson did not mislead MPs when he told them no lockdown rules had been broken in Downing Street, No 10 has insisted, despite the Metropolitan Police concluding the law was breached.

Investigators will begin handing out 20 fines over parties and gatherings held across Whitehall during Covid measures, the Met said on Tuesday.

The imminent issuing of the fixed penalty notices (FPNs) means the police have ruled the law was broken – with more fines expected to follow as officers continue to sift through evidence.

But No 10 has denied the Prime Minister misled the House of Commons when he defended the goings-on in his home and workplace.

Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

His official spokesman said Downing Street had not been informed by the Met that Mr Johnson is among those referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the penalties.

“We’ve said we’ll update if that were to occur but our position has not changed,” he said.

He refused to be drawn on whether Mr Johnson would resign if he did get a fine.

He also declined to say whether fined individuals can carry on working in No 10, though former chief whip Mark Harper suggested law-breaking civil servants or special advisers would have to be sacked.


Officials and Special Advisers are bound by the Civil Service Code…which says you must *comply with the law*.

You can read the Civil Service Code for yourself here: The Civil Service code https://t.co/r4s9bwBWAy pic.twitter.com/flSfAKjMTI

— Mark Harper (@Mark_J_Harper) March 29, 2022

In a tweet, the Tory MP posted a screenshot of the Civil Service Code, highlighting a passage saying they must “comply with the law”.

The identities of those fined will not be disclosed by Scotland Yard.

Downing Street said it will confirm if Mr Johnson is issued with a FPN, but not if others in his family or office are.

No 10 staff will not need to come forward if they get a FPN, but they will be asked to update their vetting information depending on their security clearance.

The PM’s spokesman said Mr Johnson was not misleading on the numerous occasions he defended the saga, despite wrongdoing now being confirmed.

“At all times, he has set out his understanding of events,” he said.


A sign made out of hay reads ‘Sack Boris’ on a field in Little Hay in north Birmingham, calling for the removal of Prime Minister Boris Johnson from office (Jacob King/PA)
“The Prime Minister has apologised to the House already.”

He added: “You can expect to hear more from the Prime Minister when the investigation is concluded and Sue Gray has set out her report.”

Ms Gray is the senior civil servant tasked with investigating the allegations of lockdown-busting gatherings and has not yet been able to release her full findings.

The Cabinet Office said it would not be appropriate to comment on the first 20 partygate fines while the police probe is ongoing.


The Met would not say how many individuals will get a fine – it is possible some will get more than one if they attended more than one event.

The force would also not say which parties the fines relate to.

Mr Johnson came under intense pressure to quit as a result of partygate, but in recent weeks the war in Ukraine has seen Tory MPs rally round their leader.
But the Met’s intervention, confirming it believes laws were broken at the heart of Government, could reignite the debate about his leadership.

Hannah Brady, spokeswoman for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said the PM’s team had “regularly and blatantly” broken “the same rules that families across the country stuck with even when they suffered terribly as a consequence”.

The group will today mark a year since they began to draw hearts on the national Covid memorial wall in London, and Ms Brady – whose father Shaun died at 55 after contracting Covid – said: “It’s crystal clear now that whilst the British public rose to the challenge of making enormous sacrifices to protect their loved ones and their communities, those at 10 Downing Street failed.

“Frankly, bereaved families have seen enough. The PM should have resigned months ago over this. By dragging it out longer all he is doing is pouring more salt on the wounds of those who have already suffered so much.”

Government minister Will Quince earlier told Sky News the gatherings “shouldn’t have happened”.

He said questions over whether Mr Johnson should resign if fined were “hypothetical”, but added: “Looking at the moment over in Ukraine, and even worse over in Russia, I think it’s a brilliant thing that we have a free press in this country that is able to ask these kinds of questions.”


If Boris Johnson thinks he can get away with partygate by paying expensive lawyers and throwing junior staff to the wolves, he is wrong.

We all know who is responsible. The Prime Minister must resign, or Conservative MPs must sack him.

— Ed Davey MP (@EdwardJDavey) March 29, 2022

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the war should not be used as an excuse to save Mr Johnson.

“After over two months of police time, 12 parties investigated and over a hundred people questioned under caution, Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law,” she said.

“The culture is set from the very top. The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he has got to go.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “If Boris Johnson thinks he can get away with partygate by paying expensive lawyers and throwing junior staff to the wolves, he is wrong.”

More than 100 questionnaires were sent out to people at the gatherings, including the PM and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The events included a “bring your own booze” gathering in May 2020 and a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson’s birthday in June 2020.
In January, Ms Gray published a partial report, which said there were “failures of leadership and judgment” in parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office.

The initial publication contained limited detail due to the police investigation. A fuller report is expected once the Met’s inquiry ends.

 

Boris again dang what does that man have ...how about a opera piece

 

Boris this Boris that Boris chat chat

Ahead of the news —-

 

Hopefully the communication of peace love and the pursuit of virtue will be heard and seen soon

I can speak about Boris after all it was him I’m pretty sure on the news when I walked into a room with the news on and announcing that Christmas and singing and dancing was being cancelled ...which caught my attention...i thought I was dreaming

 

Talking about LAST xmas darlin' !!!

 

Yes I know that is the first time I ever saw Boris before that I never knew who he was...

Then he opened that one meeting with some statement ...which actually a beautiful statement about a mother I think ..the headlines were Boris opened meeting with bizarre statement lol

 

I had to refresh my memory Boris opened the G7 summit asking the men around the table to be more feminine ....

since I am all about the male my first reaction was will someone please check to see if that man has any balls

 

I like Boris actually and Boris was pretty much spot on ..so I retracted my initial thought and that wow that actually took balls to say sitting around a table full of men

 

*then the G7 summit joined hands and started to sing together*

 

You've been sadly disillusioned about Boris darlin' - he's a lying, conniving self-serving scumbag, member of the 'nasty sleaze party' !!! and Domonic Raab is no better than a toadying mouthpiece.

Johnson’s refusal to accept partygate law breaches puts him at odds with Raab

David Hughes, PA Political Editor
30 March 2022, 3:56 pm


Boris Johnson refused to accept coronavirus lockdown laws were broken at the heart of his government despite the Metropolitan Police’s decision to issue 20 fines over rule-breaking parties.

The Prime Minister’s position puts him at odds with his deputy, Dominic Raab, who said the Met’s decision to start sending out fixed penalty notices (FPNs) meant it was clear that the law was breached.

Mr Johnson ducked questions about his own future as he was challenged by MPs about the partygate scandal.

An initial round of 20 FPNs have been issued as part of Scotland Yard’s investigation into a series of gatherings in 2020 and 2021.

Mr Raab, the Justice Secretary and a lawyer, said it was “clear there were breaches of the law”.

“Clearly there were breaches of the regulations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“That is the only thing that can warrant the 20 fixed penalty notices. That must follow.”

At the Liaison Committee, SNP MP Pete Wishart asked Mr Johnson to accept “there has been criminality committed”, given Scotland Yard’s decision to issue FPNs.

The Prime Minister said: “I have been, I hope, very frank with the House about where I think we have gone wrong and the things that I regret, that I apologise for.

“But there is an ongoing investigation… I am going to camp pretty firmly on my position.”

He added: “I won’t give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.”

Mr Johnson sidestepped questions about whether he would be “toast” if he was issued with an FPN or if he would resign if he broke the Ministerial Code.

“I think you’re just going to have to hold your horses and wait until the conclusion of the investigation when there will be a lot more clarity,” Mr Johnson said.

He indicated he had not been one of the people issued with a fixed penalty notice but “I’m sure you would know if I were”.

Earlier at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer suggested Mr Johnson should resign for misleading the House by denying the allegations of wrongdoing at the parties during England’s coronavirus lockdowns.

“He told the House no rules were broken in Downing Street during lockdown. The police have now concluded there was widespread criminality,” the Labour leader and former director of public prosecutions said.
“The Ministerial Code says that ministers who knowingly mislead the House should resign. Why is he still here?”

The Prime Minister said: “Of course the Met, the investigators, must get on with their job, but in the meantime… we are going to get on with our job.

“That means tackling the cost of living, addressing the UK’s energy supply and improving education.

“That’s what we’re focusing on and I think that’s what the people in this country want us to focus on.”

The FPNs being issued by the Met relate to investigations into a series of around a dozen events in Downing Street and Whitehall while England was subject to coronavirus lockdown restrictions – including one in the Prime Minister’s flat.

Although Mr Johnson is not expected to be among the first group to be hit with fines, the Met have indicated they expect to issue more fixed penalty notices as their investigations continue.
Sir Keir said there are “only two possible explanations” for Mr Johnson’s position: “Either he’s trashing the Ministerial Code or he’s claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn’t know what was going on in his own house and his own office.

“Come off it.

“He really does think it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else, that he can pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law.”

During a round of Wednesday morning broadcast interviews Mr Raab insisted Mr Johnson had not been aware of the “infractions” when he repeatedly told MPs there had not been any breach of the law.

The Prime Minister had been speaking to the best of his knowledge at the time, Mr Raab said, and had not deliberately lied – even though he had been at some of the events which were under investigation.

“I think it is rather different to say that he lied, which suggests that he was deliberately misleading. The PM has not to date been issued with a fixed penalty notice,” Mr Raab told BBC Breakfast.

“Clearly we had the investigations because of the claims, the assertions that were made, which it was right to follow up, and it is clear there were breaches of the law.

“But to jump from that to say the Prime Minister deliberately misled Parliament rather than answering to the best of his ability is just not right.”

 

I barely have an opinion on Boris is boring I know very little about him or his politics.. just that it was his face I saw canceling the festive’ his hair sort of looked like a elf at the time too lol
.on the subject politics I am always hopeful that positions of authority will be filled with honorable men

 

Not when it comes to that scumbag 'nasty sleaze party' !!!

 

Boris at odds with his own Justice Minister over 'Partygate' following Domonic Raab's adnission that parties were held at 10 Downing Street and that they did break the law !!!

Clash over Partygate as Boris Johnson refuses to endorse Raab’s admission laws were broken
‘You’re pretty much toast, aren’t you?’: Calls for Boris Johnson to resign over ‘criminality’ in Downing Street

Andrew Woodcock
Political Editor
10 hours ago
50 Comments




Dominic Raab over the Partygate scandal, by refusing to endorse the justice secretary’s admission that laws were broken in No 10.

Mr Raab’s comment came after 24 hours in which Downing Street had refused to accept that Metropolitan Police fines for 20 lockdown breaches amounted to proof of law-breaking.


But Mr Johnson stuck to the official line when grilled on the issue by a parliamentary committee, insisting he would not comment on Partygate until the Met inquiry is completed and Whitehall mandarin Sue Gray’s report published.


The prime minister faced calls to resign over what Labour said was clear evidence of “criminality” under his watch at Downing Street – with one MP telling him to his face: “You’re toast.”

The PM’s silence prompted speculation that he fears anything said now could backfire later if he receives a fixed penalty notice (FPN) himself.

The issue could turn out to be vital to Mr Johnson’s future, as it will be more difficult for him to cling on to office if it is shown that he broke the law or misled parliament.


Mr Raab may have denied the PM a potential line of defence against accusations of law-breaking with his comments in a round of broadcast interviews on Wednesday morning, in which he said that it was “inevitably” the case that FPNs were issued only to “those that have breached the regulations”.

The cabinet minister also accepted that Mr Johnson may have said things “that turned out not to be true” when he assured MPs in the House of Commons that no rules were broken in No 10.

But he insisted that there was no “intention to mislead”, as the PM had been “updating parliament to the best of his knowledge and understanding”.


Under sustained questioning during a 90-minute session of the House of Commons Liaison Committee, Mr Johnson repeatedly insisted he would not provide a “running commentary” on the Partygate inquiry and would not speak publicly about it until the process was concluded.


After he declined to say whether he had himself received an FPN, Pete Wishart, an SNP MP, told him: “Prime minister we’re not expecting you to give a running commentary, quite obviously. But if you have… you’re pretty much toast aren’t you?”

But Mr Johnson told Mr Wishart: “I have been, I hope, very frank with the House about where I think we have gone wrong and the things that I regret, that I apologise for.

“But there is an ongoing investigation... I am going to camp pretty firmly on my position. I won’t give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.”

Earlier, the prime minister faced calls of “resign” as he deflected questions over Partygate in the House of Commons.

Sir Keir Starmer told Prime Minister’s Questions that the Met’s decision to issue fines indicated there was “widespread criminality” in Mr Johnson’s Downing Street.

“The ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly mislead the House should resign,” said the Labour leader. “Why’s he still here?”

Mr Johnson replied: “Of course the Met, the investigators, must get on with their job but in meantime we’re going to get on with our job.”

Sir Keir retorted that the PM was either “trashing the ministerial code or he’s claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn’t know what was going on in his own house and his own office”.

Accusing Mr Johnson of believing he can “pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law”, Sir Keir asked: “When is he going to stop taking the British public for fools?”

A Labour spokesperson later said that it was “totally untenable” for Downing Street to “refuse to acknowledge what is a statement of fact and law – and that is that the issuing of 20 fixed penalty notices proves that there has been criminality in Boris Johnson’s Downing Street”.

Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain, a former police officer, said: “It is completely absurd that Boris Johnson still won’t accept that the lockdown parties in Downing Street broke the law.

“This stubborn denial flies in the face of the evidence. It shows that Johnson hasn’t learnt any lessons from this scandal and is still taking the British people for fools.

“As a former police officer I know what people do to get out of answering questions. These excuses wouldn’t cut it then and they won’t cut it now with the public.”