Boris Johnson has said he has paid a fixed penalty notice relating to a gathering in the Cabinet Room on his birthday on June 19 2020, and offered a “full apology”. Speaking at Chequers, the Prime Minister said: “Today I’ve received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police relating to an event in Downing Street on June 19 2020.
“And let me say immediately that I’ve paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology and in the spirit of openness and humility I want to be completely clear about what happened on that date. My day began shortly after 7am and I chaired eight meetings in Number 10, including the Cabinet committee deciding Covid strategy.
“I visited a school in Hemel Hempstead, which took me out of Downing Street for over four hours and amongst all these engagements on a day that happened to be my birthday, there was a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room shortly after 2pm lasting for less than 10 minutes, during which people I work with kindly passed on their good wishes. And I have to say in all frankness at that time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules.”
The Prime Minister said he “fully respects” the outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigation and that he accepts “in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better”. He said: “Now I feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the British people.”
It comes after his wife, Carrie Johnson, paid a fine relating to a surprise birthday party for her husband that broke coronavirus rules. A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson also said she "apologises unreservedly" for the breach.
The spokesperson said: “Mrs Johnson has paid a fixed penalty notice relating to a gathering on the afternoon of 19 June 2020. Whilst she believed that she was acting in accordance with the rules at the time, Mrs Johnson accepts the Metropolitan Police’s findings and apologises unreservedly.”
It is understood Mrs Johnson briefly attended the Cabinet Room with her newborn baby in her arms during her husband’s lunch break alongside some socially distanced staff and that because the fixed penalty notice was settled within 14 days, it was a reduced rate of £50. Today Downing Street also confirmed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak had been told to expect a fine by the Metropolitan Police.
A spokesman for No 10 said: “The Met Police have now explained that the FPN issued to the PM will be in relation to the following incident: On June 19 2020 at the Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street, between 1400 and 1500 you participated in a gathering of two or more people indoors.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for the Prime Minister and Mr Sunak to resign following the issuing of fines for breaking coronavirus laws. Speaking in Preston, the former director of public prosecutions said the police’s decision marked the “first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be in breach of the law”.
He accused Mr Johnson of “repeatedly” lying about what happened behind the famous black door of No 10. Mr Starmer said Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak had “dishonoured” the sacrifices made by Britons during the coronavirus pandemic.
A poll of 2,464 adults by YouGov has revealed 57% of responders think Boris Johnson should resign as Prime Minister after being fined for attending a lockdown-busting party. Meanwhile 30% say he should stay.
The same proportion said Rishi Sunak should also resign as Chancellor for being at the same event, a birthday party for the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on June 19 2020. And 75% of responders said they thought Mr Johnson knowingly lied to Parliament about whether he broke lockdown rules, with just 12% saying he did not.
