WHETHER or not a legal challenge against the Metropolitan Police’s failure to investigate Boris Johnson thoroughly during the Partygate scandal can proceed is set to be decided in the High Court.
A bid is aiming to make the London police answer to why they didn’t bother to send questionnaires about two law-breaking events to the disgraced former prime minister – despite junior government staff being fined for attending those same events.
The action is being brought by Good Law Project and Brian Paddick, a LibDem peer and former deputy assistant commissioner with the Met Police.
Jo Maugham, director of Good Law Project, said: “We can't understand – and the Met won't disclose – how Boris Johnson dodged fines for going to parties that junior civil servants were fined for attending. But what it looks like is special treatment for the powerful.
“I don't care about Johnson. And nor do I care about £100 fines. What I do care about is the rule of law. It must apply without fear or favour – or everything will fall into the sea."
Paddick said: “My sole motivation is to ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law as a result of the police carrying out their duty without fear or favour. Many fined for breaching lockdown rules will find this difficult to believe without further explanation from the Metropolitan Police.”
The High Court will decide on Wednesday whether or not the hearing can proceed.
Good Law Project said their case focuses on the Met Police’s failure to even send questionnaires – their primary method of investigating Partygate events – to Johnson regarding two lockdown gatherings that he attended in November and December 2020.
A number of civil servants and officials who took part in these events were sent questionnaires and ultimately fined.
It is the second time that Good Law Project has taken legal action against the Met over Partygate.
In January 2021, the force U-turned on its initial decision not to investigate the parties held in No 10 Downing Street and Whitehall after Good Law Project issued legal proceedings.
Ultimately, the investigation led to the issuing of 126 fines for law-breaking to 83 individuals. Johnson and then chancellor Rishi Sunak were just two of those individuals.
