Boris Johnson has been told to quit after a Metropolitan Police investigation concluded Covid laws were broken in Number 10 during the height of lockdown.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister had "knowingly mislead" MPs over the Christmas parties held in Downing Street, after 20 fines were issued for rule breaches.
The decision to issue fixed penalty notices means the police believe the law was broken – with more fines expected to follow as officers continue to sift through evidence.
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Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.
Sir Keir, speaking at prime minister's questions, said: "The Prime Minister told the House no rules were broken in Downing Street during lockdown. The police have now concluded there was widespread criminality.
“The ministerial code says that ministers who knowingly mislead the House should resign. Why’s he still here?”
Mr Johnson replied: “Hang on a minute, we do at least expect some consistency from this human weathervane – it was only a week or so ago he was saying that I shouldn’t resign. What is his position?
“Of course the Met, the investigators must get on with their job but in meantime we’re going to get on with our job."
Sir Keir Starmer continued: “There are only two possible explanations – either he’s trashing the ministerial code or he’s claiming he was repeatedly lied to by his own advisers, that he didn’t know what was going on in his own house and his own office. Come off it.
“He really does think it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else, that he can pass off criminality in his office and ask others to follow the law.
“That he can keep raising taxes and call himself a tax-cutter. That he can hike tax during a cost of living crisis and get credit for giving a bit back just before an election.
“When is he going to stop taking the British public for fools?”
Mr Johnson replied: “This is the Leader of the Opposition who would have kept this country in lockdown, he has zero consistency on any issue. One thing we know is he’d like to take us back into the EU and take us back into lockdown if he possibly could.”
The Prime Minister and his allies were given an indication of public anger about the situation at a party for Tory MPs in London on Tuesday night, where bereaved relatives of Covid-19 victims heckled senior Conservatives.
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, to boo guests as they arrived.
Shouts of “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” were directed at Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg as they turned up to the venue.
