Khan: Why was Johnson not fined for ‘leaving do’?
MET POLICE FACE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF SUE GRAY REPORT PUBLICATION
THE London mayor Sadiq Khan has said the Metropolitan Police must “explain” why prime minister Boris Johnson was not fined for attending a party during the Covid lockdown, according to a report.
Khan’s comments came after ITV News on Monday (23) published new photographs of Johnson drinking at a leaving party at his Downing Street residence.
The photographs were taken at a gathering in honour of No 10’s outgoing director of communications, Lee Cain, in November 2020. It was an event that was previously investigated by the Met for potential breaches of the law.
According to reports, Johnson’s ministerial red box was resting on a chair as he addresses staff members while holding a plastic glass in his hand.
Last week, the Met Police said they had completed their probe into the ‘Partygate’ scandal, issuing a final wave of fines but no more for Johnson.
“I think it’s important, when it comes to trust and confidence, when it comes to policing by consent, when it comes to questions being asked about the integrity of an investigation, the police explain why they have reached the conclusions they have,” Khan told Radio Four’s Today programme.
“And just like you..., it was the first time I saw the photograph of Boris Johnson raising a glass, clearly bottles of wine laying around, others with wine in their hand, on a day when he said in the Houses of Commons – and I speak as a former parliamentarian and I know the importance of not lying or misleading the House of Commons – that there wasn’t a party.”
The pictures emerged as senior civil servant Sue Gray prepares to unveil her full report on the affair.
The government is expected this week to publish the long-awaited report into the events held at Johnson’s Downing Street office during the coronavirus lockdowns. Police have handed out 126 fines in connection with the parties.
Khan, who is also the police and crime commissioner for London, added: “So you know, of course, Sue Gray will publish her report this week, and of course, the prime
minister will have to answer for himself, but I think the police should explain why they reached their conclusions and provide that clarity.”
Meanwhile, the transport secretary Grant Shapps has insisted the pictures do not show Johnson attending a party. “Probably what happened is he was at the end of a
busy day, he walks down, he says ‘cheers’ to somebody who’s worked there and walks out, and to him, that is not a party,” Shapps told