'Lying' Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were today told to resign after police issued them both with Partygate fines - along with the PM's wife Carrie.
No10 made the bombshell admission that cops have decided the Prime Minister, his wife and his Chancellor all broke their own lockdown laws.
The Prime Minister - the first found by police to have broken the law - faced demands to recall Parliament for a vote of no confidence weeks before the May 5 local elections.
Keir Starmer declared: "This is the first time in the history of our country that a Prime Minister has been found to be in breach of the law, and then he lied repeatedly to the public about it."
But Tory MPs who previously demanded his resignation rallied round and said now is not the time due to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Boris Johnson tonight confirmed he’d paid his £50 fine but refused to resign - shamelessly saying it had given him an "even greater sense of obligation" to deliver on his "levelling-up" manifesto pledge.
He denied lying to Parliament - but accepted he could receive more fines.
No10 confirmed the PM's fine is for a party at 2pm on 19 June 2020 in the Cabinet room - where staff presented him with a cake and sang Happy Birthday while indoor gatherings and singing at Covid funerals were illegal.
It is the same party where an ally infamously claimed he was "ambushed by cake". But the Mirror was told police had a photograph of Boris Johnson holding a can of an Estrella beer at the bash - and raised it to the camera in a toast.
The Prime Minister was pictured standing next to Chancellor Rishi Sunak in No10's Cabinet room where the event was allegedly arranged by his wife Carrie Johnson. All three were fined today, among 50 lockdown breach fines issued so far.
It came as Scotland Yard dished out another 30 fines for lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street and on Whitehall in 2020 and 2021 - bringing the total to 50 so far.
The Met Police said extra fines could still follow - raising the bombshell prospect that Boris Johnson could be handed more fines over further events as the investigation proceeds.
Mr Johnson is accused of misleading Parliament four and a half months ago when he vowed solemnly: "All guidance was followed completely in No10".
Carrie Johnson had also vehemently denied a party took place in the Downing Street flat, while Rishi Sunak told MPs in December: "I did not attend any parties."
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign.
"The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “They are not fit to hold office. If they had a shred of decency, they would resign.
“Parliament should be recalled immediately so that MPs can hold a vote of no confidence. Conservative MPs must do their patriotic duty and kick these criminals out of Government once and for all.”
Naomi Smith of campaign group Best for Britain said: “For the good of the country, Parliament must be recalled and they must face a confidence vote.”
The Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed: “The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices."
A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson added: “In the interests of transparency, Mrs Johnson can confirm she has been notified that she will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice."
A snap YouGov poll of 2,464 people found 57% of Brits think Boris Johnson should resign - compared to just 30% who think he should stay. The same poll found 75% believe the PM knowingly lied - with just 12% saying he did not.
The fines are £100 or £200 depending on whether they were issued before or after September 2020. They halve if paid within 14 days.
The PM, his wife and Chancellor can all contest the fines but only if they fight them in a magistrates' court - and if they lost in court they would get a criminal record.
Today's revelations could spark a fresh wave of Tory attempts to oust the Prime Minister after dozens of MPs said they would wait until police responded before deciding their course of action.
In February one senior Tory told the Mirror police action "would be terminal.”
But it takes 54 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs to trigger a leadership contest.
And the shameless PM appears set to try to ride out the storm - claiming Britain needs consistency during the Ukraine war.
Boris Johnson loyalist Michael Fabricant suggested the PM fight the penalty “just like a speeding fine”, adding: “I mean the way it's been characterised, you'd think there had been pole dancers. And that certainly was not the case."
He added: “In my view they should just have a bar in Downing Street just as they have in the Palace of Westminster.”
Even Sir Roger Gale - one of a handful to publicly demand the PM resign earlier this year - today said despite the fact "the Prime Minister has effectively misled the House", "we are in the middle of an international crisis.
"I am not prepared to give Vladimir Putin the comfort of thinking that we are about to unseat the Prime Minister".
And Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who had called for the PM's resignation, said "it wouldn't be right to remove the Prime Minister at this time" due to the Ukraine war.
Meanwhile a vote of no confidence in Her Majesty's Government - which would topple the entire Tory government - appears unlikely to succeed. Despite the Lib Dems pushing for one, it would only be likely to get a debate and vote if proposed by Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer. If it went to a vote, Tory MPs could rally round the leadership.
But Lobby Akinnola, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said: "After everything that’s happened it’s still unbelievably painful to know that the Prime Minister was partying and breaking his own lockdown rules - while we were unable to be at our loved ones' sides in their dying moments, or in miserable funerals with only a handful of people - because we were following the rules.
"The fact that the Prime Minister and his Chancellor then lied about it, and would have continued to do so if the police hadn’t intervened, is truly shameless. They broke the law.
"But even worse, they took us all for mugs.
"When we met the PM in the No10 garden – the same one where they had these parties – he looked us in the eye and said he had done everything he could to save our loved ones.
"We now know that that was a lie.
"There is simply no way either the Prime Minister or Chancellor can continue. Their dishonesty has caused untold hurt to the bereaved. Not only that, but they have lost all credibility with the wider public, which could cost lives if new variants mean restrictions are needed in the future. If they had any decency they would be gone by tonight."
But former Cabinet minister Rory Stewart, who fought Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership, said “he must go” adding: “The key point is not that Boris Johnson received a penalty notice. The key point is that the fine proves he has repeatedly lied to parliament about his actions.”
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson tweeted: "Met confirms what we already knew: the PM introduced liberty-curtailing rules for public health reasons.
"This caused huge hardship for those separated from ill or dying loved ones. He then broke the rules he imposed on the country & lost the moral authority to lead. He should go."
GMB union General Secretary Gary Smith said: “While GMB members risked their lives on the front line of the pandemic, these two chancers were partying the night away in Downing Street.
“They broke the law. It should be up to the country to decide if they get to keep their jobs.”
Brazen Boris Johnson spent weeks denying wrongdoing then heaped blame on staff after the Mirror revealed boozy No10 bashes in November and December 2020.
At first No10 tried to contain the scandal - stonewalling questions and the PM saying ”all guidance was followed completely”.
But it erupted when leaked footage showed aides joking about a Christmas party - despite No10 claiming “there was no Christmas party”.
Former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton resigned in tears but the PM clung on - saying he was “sickened myself and furious” about the acts of his own staff.
But later the PM’s own attendance at a virtual Christmas quiz and a May 2020 ‘BYOB’ garden party were revealed. In an explosive email, more than 100 staff - who had their own wine fridge and made runs to the local supermarket with a suitcase of booze - to "make the most of the lovely weather" in the lush walled garden behind No10.
He also attended a gathering in the Cabinet room where he was presented with a birthday cake - and Rishi Sunak was present too. Indoor social gatherings were illegal.
Staff are said to have sung Happy Birthday to the Prime Minister in June 2020 while it was still illegal to sing hymns at Covid victims' funerals.
A report by Whitehall ethics chief Sue Gray in January blasted “failures of leadership” and said several lockdown parties - first revealed by the Mirror’s award-winning Political Editor Pippa Crerar - "should not have been allowed".
After her report the PM triggered a clearout at the top of No10, with press chief Jack Doyle, top aide and BYOB party organiser Martin Reynolds and chief of staff Dan Rosenfield all forced to fall on their swords.
But the PM clung to office - and Ms Gray was prevented from publishing most details because the Met decided to launch an investigation at the same time. Scotland Yard have kept the identities of fine recipients secret.
Until today only one official, former Whitehall ethics chief Helen MacNamara, had come forward to confirm she personally has received a fine.
Ms MacNamara said she was "sorry for the error of judgement I have shown" after receiving a fine in connection with a leaving party in the Cabinet Office.
The Telegraph revealed she had been at a “raucous” leaving do for No10 aide Hannah Young on 18 June 2020 - during the first lockdown.
A source confirmed to the Mirror that attendees had used a karaoke machine kept in government offices - and a drunken “brawl” broke out in the early hours.
Fines also went to officials who attended a farewell event for Kate Josephs, who was director-general of the Cabinet Office's Covid-19 taskforce that wrote Covid rules.
Sky News reported the PM had been due to recall Parliament due to chemical weapons fears in Ukraine - but it was “now not possible” as it would be overtaken by Partygate.
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “If this is true, it shows how Boris Johnson’s ability to be Prime Minister has been crippled by his law-breaking.
“In the middle of Putin’s illegal war, we need a PM who can do everything necessary to support Ukraine. Not one who is hiding from Parliament to save his own skin.”
There was an ominous silence from Cabinet ministers in the wake of today's news.
But one did break their silence - to tweet about Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis tweeted: "Season 3 of #DerryGirls is out today! Such a fantastic example of Northern Ireland's thriving creative industries and talent."
All the lockdown parties investigated by police
Below are all the parties the Metropolitan Police are investigating - and which ones had resulted in fines as of Wednesday last week.
It is not yet known which events the latest fines were issued over - as the Met Police is keeping details anonymous.
May 20, 2020: BYOB bash in the Downing Street garden
The PM's then Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds invited around 100 staff to a bash at the height of the first lockdown to "make the most of the lovely weather ".
He signed off the email: "Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!"
The Prime Minister has admitted to briefly attending the gathering but claimed he thought it was a work event.
His wife Carrie Johnson was reportedly there, alongno conf with 40 others.
One witness told the Sunday Times: “There were 40 people in the garden, including Boris and Carrie. There were long tables laden with drink, crisps, sausage rolls and other picnic food. It was a proper booze-up.”
Fines issued? None so far.
June 18, 2020: Karaoke leaving do for No10 official
Officials gathered for a lockdown karaoke bash to mark the departure of No10 official Hannah Young.
The raucous leaving do, which is said to have resulted in a drunken brawl, saw partygoers use a karaoke machine despite singing and indoor gatherings being banned at the time.
Around 20 people attended the knees-up.
Former Whitehall ethics chief Helen MacNamara became the first person to publicly admit to receiving a fine when she apologised for an "error of judgement" in attending the event.
Whitehall enforcer Sue Gray first revealed the event had taken place at the Cabinet Office in her initial Partygate report in January.
Fines issued? Yes
June 19, 2020: Boris Johnson's surprise birthday gathering
Boris Johnson 's wife Carrie led staff in a chorus of Happy Birthday while the PM was presented with a cake at a surprise gathering in the Cabinet room.
The Prime Minister had returned from a school visit in Hertfordshire that afternoon.
Long-standing ally Conor Burns famously tried to defend the Prime Minister's attendance by saying he was "ambushed with a cake" and was only there for ten minutes.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also admitted to attending but said he was there for a meeting.
Fines issued? None so far
November 13, 2020: 'Abba' party in Downing Street flat
Sources told the Mirror No10 aides “drank their socks off" at a gathering in Boris and Carrie Johnson’s flat above 11 Downing Street.
Staff reported hearing loud music blasting late into the night after top No10 aide Dominic Cummings quit.
The flat get-together later became known as the Abba party, as the 'Winner Takes It All' was said to have been played to celebrate his departure.
A spokeswoman for Mrs Johnson dismissed the claims as "total nonsense” but an event in the flat was listed in Sue Gray's report and Dominic Cummings said it happened.
Fines issued? None so far
November 13, 2020: Leaving do for spin chief
On the same night, a leaving do was held for Lee Cain, the PM’s departing director of communications.
Boris Johnson is said to have given a leaving speech to say farewell to former spin doctor Lee Cain.
Sources told the Mirror a relatively small number of people gathered for drinks in No10’s ‘round table room’ to mark two top aides’ departure.
Fines issued? Not so far
December 17, 2020: Boozy leaving do for official who wrote the Covid rules
Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Taskforce, was given a boozy send off by officials at the Cabinet Office - despite London being placed into Tier 3 the day before.
Bars, pubs and restaurants were forced to close but staff enjoyed a get-together "with drinks" to mark her departure from Whitehall.
Ms Josephs, who went to work for Sheffield City Council issued a public apology earlier this year after details of the farewell bash emerged.
Fines issued? Yes
December 17, 2020: Christmas quiz in civil service chief's office
Civil service boss Simon Case was initially asked to investigate the Partygate scandal but he stepped aside after it emerged an event had taken place in his own office.
The probe was taken over by senior civil servant Sue Gray.
An online quiz was reportedly held for members of his private office, with around 15 guests attending.
Fines issued? Not so far
December 17, 2020: No10 leaving do
Boris Johnson gave a speech at an event to mark defence aide Captain Steve Higham’s Downing Street departure before Christmas.
It is understood the PM was “there for a few minutes to thank him for his service” as a “small number of No10 staff briefly said goodbye”.
Fines issued? Not so far
December 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
The raucous Christmas party, first revealed by the Mirror, was said to have been attended by 40 of the Prime Minister’s top team.
Downing Street dodged questions for a week before bombshell video emerged of staff joking about it.
Officials knocked back glasses of wine and held a Secret Santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home.
According to later reports, people made speeches and stayed until 2am, with Boris Johnson not present but working a few rooms away in his office.
“It was a Covid nightmare,” one source told the Mirror.
Mr Johnson claimed in the Commons that all guidance was followed, but a video emerged of a mock press conference in which press secretary Allegra Stratton joked about the knees-up and the lack of social distancing. She later resigned.
Fines issued? Not so far
January 14, 2021: Prosecco-fuelled bash for departing No10 officials
Sue Gray first revealed that a gathering was held in Downing Street during the third lockdown to mark the departure of two private secretaries.
The prosecco-fuelled event was said to have included a speech by Boris Johnson, who attended briefly.
Fines issued? Not so far
April 16, 2021: Two boozy leaving dos on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral
Leaving events for No10 comms chief James Slack and a photographer took place and later merged on the eve of Prince Philip 's funeral.
Despite the Union flag flying at half mast at Buckingham Palace, Downing Street staff filled a suitcase with wine from a local Co-op and staff reportedly broke a swing belonging to the PM's baby son Wilf.
Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after news of the lockdown parties triggered widespread public anger.
Fines issued? Yes
