Advertisement
Politics

Partygate: MPs demand Boris Johnson resigns over breaking lockdown laws

Boris Johnson is under the greatest pressure yet to resign after Downing St confirmed he would be fined by the police over lockdown parties

Opposition leaders and senior MPs are demanding the immediate resignation of Boris Johnson after sources confirmed he will be fined by police over lockdown parties.

The Met will hand both the prime minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak fixed penalty notices after investigating 12 gatherings held on Downing Street premises while people across the country were forced to stay at home by law.

Johnson and Sunak both rejected accusations of breaking their own laws when confronted by MPs, telling the Commons on different occasions that there were no parties, that they had no knowledge of them, that guidelines were followed or that they were work events.

But today a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the pair had received notice of fines, two of around 50 which have been handed out by police so far. Critics said it made the ministers’ positions untenable.

Boris Johnson’s defence has “been blown out of the water”, wrote Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner.

“He told the country all the rules were followed in Downing Street – but that was a lie. Widespread criminality took place at the heart of his Government”, she added.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader, called for parliament to be recalled to facilitate a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. MPs are in recess until April 19.

“This is a government in crisis neglecting a country in crisis,” Davey said.

Labour leader Keir Starmer called the Conservative party “totally unfit to govern”, accusing Johnson and Sunak of having broken the law and “repeatedly” lying to the British public.

“Britain deserves better,” Starmer wrote on Twitter.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, echoed calls for Johnson to quit.

“A Prime Minister who breaks the laws his government makes and then lies about it isn’t fit for office,” Khan said.

“Families made huge sacrifices and obeyed the law. Many said their last goodbyes to loved ones on the phone while the prime minister partied. 

“Boris Johnson must resign.”

Only one Conservative MP has spoken publicly about the development so far. Darren Henry, MP for Broxtowe, asked for Johnson to apologise.

“It is right that those who break rules are punished. Due to the Prime Minister’s and the Chancellor’s public facing roles I expect a public apology,” he tweeted. As I previously stated, I am not going to make my final statement until the full Sue Gray Report is released.”

“I’m sure Boris Johnson has a donor lined up to help out with the fine,” Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse said on Twitter.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
'It could have been from Gordon Brown': Experts weigh in on how radical Labour's budget really is
Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares for the autumn budget 2024
Autumn budget

'It could have been from Gordon Brown': Experts weigh in on how radical Labour's budget really is

'We want a society that works for everyone': These millionaires want Rachel Reeves to tax them more
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to extend rough sleeping funding to help homelessness services
Wealth tax

'We want a society that works for everyone': These millionaires want Rachel Reeves to tax them more

Real change or austerity 2.0? Here's how Labour can deliver a budget that works for everyone
Autumn budget

Real change or austerity 2.0? Here's how Labour can deliver a budget that works for everyone

What Tory leader hopefuls Badenoch and Jenrick think about poverty, benefits, housing and more
Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick
Politics

What Tory leader hopefuls Badenoch and Jenrick think about poverty, benefits, housing and more

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue