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First 20 fines to be issued over Westminster’s partygate scandal
Boris Johnson will face MPs in the Commons on Wednesday after police confirmed the first wave of 20 fines are being issued over lockdown-breaching parties in Whitehall.
Mr Johnson has not yet been informed whether he will receive a fine, his official spokesperson said but added that they are “committed” to ensuring the public is informed if the prime minister is given a penalty notice.
Meanwhile Tory MPs got an indication of the public’s anger on Tuesday night as they attended a party at the Park Plaza hotel, across Westminster Bridge from the House of Commons on Tuesday night.
Bereaved families of Covid-19 victims stood outside and chanted “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” as the MPs including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg turned up to the venue.
The prime minister is facing growing calls for his resignation, while police have been accused of giving “special treatment” by not divulging details of the 20 fines issued.
Recommended Boris Johnson facing calls for resignation as police confirm 20 fines in Partygate scandal Downing Street parties timeline as first fines issued Partygate is not about cake – it’s about the breaking of laws that were intended to save lives Bereaved Covid families boo ministers at Boris Johnson’s dinner as Partygate fines issued
Key Points Boris Johnson to face grilling by MPs Growing calls for PM's resignation Tory MPs heckled as they attend party in London Met police accused of 'special treatment' in partygate probe Earlier: First 20 fines issued over partygate
Show latest update 1648620502 Public satisfaction with NHS drops to 25-year low
Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to a 25-year low as a fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new poll has revealed.
The British Social Attitudes poll found 36 per cent of the 3,100 respondents were satisfied in 2021 with the NHS.
This is a drop of 53 per cent from the previous year and is the largest drop in a single year.
The poll also found that more people - 41 per cent - were dissatisfied than satisfied.
The last time satisfaction levels were lower than this was in 1997, spurring the Blair government to increase its health budget.
(AFP/Getty)
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 07:08
1648618715 Met Police commissioner evades questions on 'letting prime minister off'
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick refused to take questions on Tuesday, hours after the force issued 20 fines in the partygate scandal.
Ms Dick was asked by ITV News: “Commissioner, do you think you let the prime minister off by delaying so long with your investigation.”
However the commissioner refused to answer, and said that she is not taking questions from the media.
Earlier, the force refused to give details of the 20 fines issued as part of its investigation into Downing Street and Cabinet Office parties.
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 06:38
1648617881 Boris Johnson faces calls for resignation
Boris Johnson is facing calls for his resignation, after police confirmed that fixed penalty notices are to be issued in at least 20 cases during Covid lockdown law-breaking at parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.
In a statement, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign said: “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.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also called for Mr Johnson to go.
“We all know who is responsible. The prime minister must resign, or Conservative MPs must sack him,” he said.
Andrew Woodcock and Lizzie Dearden have more:
PM facing calls for resignation as police confirm 20 fines in Partygate scandal Downing Street refuses to accept that police fines prove PM misled Commons over parties during lockdown
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 06:24
1648617709 Met police accused of 'special treatment' over refusal to give details of partygate fines
The Metropolitan Police has refused to give details of the 20 fines issued as part of its investigation into Downing Street and Cabinet Office parties.
A statement from Scotland Yard said only that 20 fixed penalty notices were to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations as part of its “Operation Hillman” probe.
It added that official guidance prohibits naming of individuals given fixed penalty notices, and that a breakdown of events “may lead to their identification”.
The force has refused to confirm the number of people given the 20 fixed penalty notices, the amount of the fines - which ranged from ￡100 to ￡10,000 - and which of the varying Covid laws in place during the period were used.
The Independent’s Home Affairs Editor Lizzie Dearden has more:
‘Special treatment’ accusations as Met Police refuses details of Partygate fines Questions mounting over why force is releasing less information than given for cases involving ordinary members of the public
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 06:21
1648616654 'It's not a party, it's colleagues getting together'
As Boris Johnson’s government faces heat over partygate scandal, Tory MPs attended a party on Tuesday night in London.
Tory MPs including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove were jeered at by bereaved families of Covid-19 victims, as they arrived to attend a dinner held by Boris Johnson at the Park Plaza, a luxury hotel near Westminster Bridge.
Simon Mundell, the former Scotland Secretary, said to ITV News that the gathering was just “colleagues getting together”.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Metropolitan police issued the first 20 fines relating to the partygate investigation.
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 06:04
1648615866 Tory MPs booed by relatives of Covid-19 victims
The Johnson government got an indication of public anger over the partygate scandal on Tuesday night when relatives of Covid-19 victims heckled and booed Tory MPs arriving for a party in London.
Dozens of grief-stricken relatives who lost loved ones during the pandemic lined up outside the entrance of the Park Plaza hotel, across Westminster Bridge from the House of Commons, and booed at MPs — including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg — as they arrived.
The crowd chanted “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” as the MPs turned up to the venue.
Bereaved Covid families boo ministers at PM’s dinner as Partygate fines issued Tory ministers heckled by bereaved families of Covid victims
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 05:51
1648615008 Boris Johnson to face grilling by MPs
Boris Johnson will face MPs following the Metropolitan Police’s conclusion that coronavirus laws were broken at the heart of his government.
On Tuesday, the police confirmed that the first 20 fines were issued over the scandal.
Mr Johnson is likely to face a difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and he will then endure a further grilling from senior MPs at the Liaison Committee.
Earlier, Downing Street has insisted that the prime minister did not mislead parliament when he claimed that lockdown rules were followed.
Read more in this full report:
Boris Johnson to face MPs after police issue partygate fines Boris Johnson will endure Prime Minister’s Questions and a lengthy grilling at the Liaison Committee.
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 05:36
1648611920 Sunak to appear before MPs at Treasury select committee
Sunak to appear before MPs at Treasury select committee
Rishi Sunak faces his first Commons grilling since delivering his widely criticised spring statement to MPs last week.
The chancellor is up at the Treasury select committee where he is being questioned on whether his mini-budget did enough to help Britons with the cost of living crisis.
We’ll bring you updates from the session once it gets underway at 2.40pm.
Sravasti Dasgupta 30 March 2022 04:45