Bereaved son says ministers should resign

Ministers have a “moral duty” to resign over partygate, says a bereaved son after the Metropolitan Police concluded its investigation with a total of 126 fines.

Andy Mitchell, 63, from Dunblane said only five people attended his mother’s funeral.

Ann Mitchell died on May 11 2020, aged 97, having tested positive for Covid-19.

Scotland Yard said yesterday it had issued fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) to 83 people at events in Downing Street and across Whitehall spanning eight separate days.

“The Downing Street garden party was particularly poignant for me because that was the day I attended my mother’s funeral,” Mr Mitchell told the PA news agency.

“My family were unable to attend the funeral and there were a total of five people there because we stuck rigorously to the rules at the time and took every precaution.

“I was appalled at the initial news that there had been a party on the very same day, so I’m pleased to hear that the event has been the target of fines.

“I think people in government have a moral duty to set the tone and to take responsibility for their actions where they have failed.”

No 10 said the Met Police had told Prime Minister Boris Johnson he would not receive a second fine.

Scotland Yard declined to identify anyone involved in the investigation but disclosed that it cost around £460,000.

Mr Mitchell described the number of FPNs issued as “pretty damning” and called for Mr Johnson to step down.

“The scale of the number of people, staff and politicians add up to a pretty damning indictment on the management of Downing Street at the time,” Mr Mitchell said.

“The prime minister and other ministers who have constantly denied any wrongdoing have a clear moral duty to step down from the posts they were elected to.

“I really hope that the people who have been fined, if that includes senior politicians, will act responsibly now that they’ve been found out and will resign from their positions.”

Fran Hall, whose husband Steve Mead died with Covid-19 three weeks after the couple married in 2020, told the PA: “I am so, so tired of my pain and loss being continually made harder to bear by hearing about the callous disregard for what I and hundreds of thousands of other people have endured.

“It is beyond outrageous and yet the man in charge throughout remains in place.”

Mr Mitchell added on reflection he still would not have broken the rules to visit his dying mother.

“I think the rules themselves as they were laid out had merit,” he said.

“I certainly hope these people regret their own decisions and are punished for it.”

BREACHES: The police have said they will take no further action against Boris Johnson.