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Metropolitan Police conclude Partygate inquiry with 126 people fined
Boris Johnson was drinking at a Downing Street party held during a coronavirus lockdown, newly-released photos show.
The four pictures, obtained by ITV News, appear to show the PM raising a glass at a leaving party for his then director of communications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.
A number of people can be seen standing together around a table of party food and booze, despite – at the time – the rest of the country being banned from socialising during the height of the pandemic.
Earlier, Dominic Cummings – Mr Johnson’s former senior adviser – had claimed that photos would emerge within the next 24 to 48 hours that would show the PM “obviously lied” to police and the House of Commons about Downing Street parties.
Mr Cummings predicted pictures would be released by warring factions within No 10, before the official partygate report by senior civil servant Sue Gray is finally published this week.
After the pictures were released, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson “demeaned his office” and that “there’s no doubt now [that] he lied.”
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Show latest update 1653330696 ‘PM must explain his behaviour,’ says Scottish Tories' leader
Boris Johnson must explain why he thinks drinking at a party during a national coronavirus lockdown was “acceptable”, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said.
Pictures released by ITV News show the prime minister holding a drink while standing behind a table of wine and food
Mr Ross said the pictures would make people “very angry”.
Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross
(PA)
The Scottish Tory leader has previously called on Mr Johnson to quit over partygate before changing tack, citing the need for stability at the top of government to deal with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He said in a statement today: “The Prime Minister must outline why he believes this behaviour was acceptable. To most, these pictures seem unjustifiable and wrong.”
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 19:31
1653328813 Watchdog urged to probe lack of fines over PM ex-aide’s party
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been called on to investigate why Boris Johnson was not fined for his attendance to a Downing Street party during lockdown that has been confirmed by a newly-published photo.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has written to IOPC director general Michael Lockwood about the issue after ITV News obtained photos from the event – a leaving party for Mr Johnson’s former director of communications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.
Mr Johnson received a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) over a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 but was told he would face no further action over other gatherings covered by the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Hillman inquiry.
Lib Dems asked IOPC to explain why the PM was not fined over aide’s leaving do
(EPA)
Ms Cooper said: “The Metropolitan Police has so far failed to offer any statement of clarification regarding their decision-making process.
“They have not set out the evidential thresholds which they used to determine whether FPNs should be issued.
“The result of this lack of transparency is that the release of photographs such as that of the Prime Minister drinking in Downing Street, on an occasion for which he was not fined, will likely create considerable public confusion.
“In particular, it is hard to understand why some individuals, in particular more junior members of staff, who attended the same gatherings as the Prime Minister received questionnaires and FPNs, while the Prime Minister did not.”
She called on the IOPC to investigate Operation Hillman “and establish the process by which the Metropolitan Police reached their conclusions on breaches of coronavirus regulations”.
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 19:00
1653326413 PM ‘took Brits for fools,’ Lib Dems say after partygate picture
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the newly-published images showing the prime minister at a Downing Street party during lockdown shows he “has taken the British people for fools”.
She joined in with the SNP’s calls for Conservative MPs to oust him from No 10.
Boris Johnson at his former aide’s leaving party in Downing Street
(ITV News)
“It’s becoming clearer than ever that Boris Johnson lied to the British people and to Parliament,” she said.
“Conservative MPs must do their duty and sack this law-breaking Prime Minister.
“Every day he remains in office will do more damage to public trust and to our democracy.”
Four pictures, obtained by ITV News, show the prime minister raising a glass at a leaving party for his then director of sommunications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020, when the rest of the country was under strict Covid lockdown.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the pictures show that “there’s no doubt now [that Mr Johnson] lied” about his involvement in the partygate scandal.
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 18:20
1653325213 Disgraced ex-Tory MP sentenced to prison for sexual assault
Former Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for having sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy.
The 48-year-old was expelled from the Conservative Party and later resigned from his West Yorkshire seat, after he was convicted for the 2008 attack following a trial at Southwark crown court last month.
During the sentencing today, Mr Justice Baker said Khan displayed a “significant degree of brutality” in the lead up to the assault that he carried out when he was 34-years-old.
Read the full story here by Liam James
Disgraced former Tory MP who sexually assaulted boy jailed for 18 months Judge says ex-member for Wakefield showed no remorse
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 18:00
1653324013 ‘No doubt’ PM lied – Rayner as new partygate photo emerges
Angela Rayner has accused Boris Johnson of undoubtedly lying about the lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street.
Her comments came as new photos emerged showing the prime minister raising a glass at one of the gatherings.
Archive photo of Angela Rayner and Boris Johnson during PMQs
(Reuters TV)
The deputy Labour leader said: “While the British public were making huge sacrifices, Boris Johnson was breaking the law.
“Boris Johnson said repeatedly that he knew nothing about law-breaking – there’s no doubt now, he lied. Boris Johnson made the rules, and then broke them.
“The Prime Minister has demeaned his office. The British people deserve better. While Labour has a plan for tackling the cost-of-living crisis, Tory MPs are too busy defending the indefensible actions of Boris Johnson.”
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 17:40
1653322875 Education secretary condemns ‘identity politics’ in schools
Children should be taught how to think, not what to think, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said.
His comments came as Tory MP Julian Lewis pressed him to agree that “vicious identity politics and decolonisation of subjects” are comparable to subjects banned from classrooms for being politically partisan.
In the Commons, Mr Lewis said: “Does the Secretary of State accept that the concepts of anti-nuclear education and anti-imperialist education that led to that ban equally are to be compared with the concepts of vicious identity politics and decolonisation of subjects, which rightly fall foul of the legislation he cited?”
Nadhim Zahawi said proposed legislation will protect freedom of speech in education
(Yui Mok/PA)
In response, Mr Zahawi said: “My honourable friend raises a very powerful point. He is quite right. Children should be taught how to think, not what to think.”
He also said that no-one should fear “expressing lawful views whatsoever” at universities, as he gave his backing to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill – which is aimed at protecting expression on campuses.
“Universities and students must balance their legal duties, including freedom of speech and tackling harassment,” Mr Zahawi told MPs.
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 17:21
1653321013 PM to address MPs ‘in full’ over new partygate photo
Boris Johnson will address parliament “in full”, Downing Street said in response to the photographs that show the PM raising a glass during a lockdown-busting party at No 10.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Cabinet Office and the Met Police have had access to all information relevant to their investigations, including photographs.
“The Met have concluded their investigation and Sue Gray will publish her report in the coming days, at which point the Prime Minister will address Parliament in full.”
Lamiat Sabin 23 May 2022 16:50
1653319839 Labour to oppose Troubles amnesty legislation
The government has failed to secure cross-party support for its flagship proposals on the Northern Ireland peace process.
Labour sources said the party would oppose the plans, which include a controversial amnesty for those accused of atrocities during the Troubles, at the second reading of the Bill on Tuesday.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the full story:
Labour to oppose Troubles amnesty legislation Controversial proposals have provoked criticism
Chiara Giordano 23 May 2022 16:30
1653319189 Photo emerges of Boris Johnson raising glass at No 10 party
Images have emerged showing Boris Johnson drinking at a Downing Street party during coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The four pictures, obtained by ITV News, allegedly show the prime minister raising a glass at a leaving party for then director of sommunications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.
A number of people can be standing close together around a table filled with party food and alcohol.
Images obtained by ITV News allegedly show Boris Johnson raising a glass at a Downing Street leaving party on 13 November 2020
(ITV)
Chiara Giordano 23 May 2022 16:19
1653318339 No plans for Cobra meeting or travel bans amid monkeypox outbreak, says Downing Street
Downing Street said there are no plans to hold a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee over monkeypox, or to impose any travel bans.
Asked about travel restrictions from affected countries, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "No, no considerations of that kind. What we're seeing at the moment is community transmission not linked to travel."
He said vaccines are being offered to close contacts but no plans for an "at scale" vaccination programme.
"We do have vaccines procured at significant numbers but given the nature of this and how we know it's spreading, it's thought to be no clinical requirement for that sort of at scale campaign," he said.
Chiara Giordano 23 May 2022 16:05
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