Partygate probe ends — with no new fine for the PM
BORIS Johnson last night vowed to get on with the job as Scotland Yard concluded its probe into Partygate.
The Prime Minister was told he will not face any further fines over the gatherings in No10 during lockdown forcing his critics to abandon plans to move against him.
After four months of investigation at a cost of around £460,000 to taxpayers, the Metropolitan Police said it had issued a total of 126 fines to 83 people.
But Mr Johnson has received just one £50 fixed penalty notice for attending a gathering to mark his 56th birthday, which he was at for nine minutes.
Figures show that since the police probe was launched in January, there have been 276,837 crimes reported in London, including 72,398 thefts, 17,835 burglaries and 8,176 sex offences.
The chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee last night condemned the ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and ‘appalling’ use of resources.
The Daily Mail understands that at least one Tory MP who had submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership has
now withdrawn it. However, No10 is braced for further damaging revelations next week when a report by senior civil servant Sue Gray setting out what happened at the lockdownbusting gatherings is published.
Sources said there will be surprising details that provoke an ‘Oh Lord!’ reaction when they are finally released.
Mr Johnson’s allies last night declared ‘the public wants to move on’ now as the Government tackles ‘bigger issues’ including the economic situation and war in Ukraine.
Downing Street said Mr Johnson was ‘focused on the issues that affect the public’.
He had just come off the phone from speaking to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky when he found out yesterday morning that he would not receive any more fines.
He spent much of yesterday in meetings about the global cost of living challenge.
Conor Burns, a Northern Ireland minister, last night argued there was a ‘degree of fatigue’ over Partygate ‘amongst people who are facing some real challenges in their lives in terms of cost of living’.
He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programsme that Mr Johnson and his Downing Street team were ‘totally now focused on getting on with delivering for the things that really matter to the British people in their day-to-day life’.
Policing minister Kit Malthouse said: ‘My sense now is that the public wants to move on and see the Government deal with bigger issues like the war in Ukraine, the NHS backlog and the cost of living crisis. These are the issues people want handled now.’
Sir Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the 1922 committee who had previously suggested Mr Johnson should go, said he now believed he had been ‘wrong’.
He told BBC Newsnight: ‘I don’t know who writes his scripts. He is a bit like that allrounder who has been written off time and time again and then grabs the bowling ball and takes five for 15 or smashes 100 or does both things in the same match.
‘Love him or loathe him, Boris Johnson is an extraordinary politician.
‘Six months ago, four months ago most people thought he was down and out. I was one of those people. And he rewrote the script.’
Susan Hall, the Conservative group leader on the London Assembly and chairman of the police and crime committee, said: ‘All of this has been brought about because [Labour leader Sir Keir] Starmer thought “I have got one on Boris and the Tories, I will stir it all up”.
‘The Met had quite clearly said it was not going to look into these things retrospectively, but because of the amount of furore from Labour ranks they did.
‘They spent all of that money which is outrageous when we have soaring crime rates, including rape figures that are absolutely dreadful. It is just appalling.
‘The parties were wrong, but to investigate people stood around a... cake as opposed to those committing rape, that is where police resources should be spent.’
Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month were among those fined for attending a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday.
It is understood Mrs Johnson and Mr Sunak yesterday were told like the PM they will not face any further fixed penalty notices.
Asked yesterday if Mr Johnson was relieved by the outcome of the inquiry, his official spokesman said: ‘He’s pleased the investigation’s concluded but at no point has it distracted him from the important issues facing the country.’
The conclusion of the police investigation paves the way for the publication of Miss Gray’s report, which the Daily Mail understands is likely to come on either Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
The Commons Privileges Committee is also set to launch an inquiry into whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament over the saga now the police have finished their work.
However, it is not likely to report before September.
Sir Keir, who is currently waiting to find out if he will be fined by Durham Police over a beer and curry last year, yesterday repeated his call for Mr Johnson to resign, for setting a culture of ‘industrial-scale law-breaking’ in No 10.
Mr Johnson is expected to be asked about the investigation during a visit later today.
Sources said the Prime Minister will argue the government ‘needs more than ever to get on with delivering for the public’.
Downing Street officials said Mr Johnson will ‘talk in more detail’ after Miss Gray’s report is published next week.
In January Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson’s leadership after news of the Partygate scandal emerged.
However, he withdrew the letter in March in the wake of war in Europe, arguing that British efforts to help Ukrainians fighting against the invading Russian forces were best served by political unity within the Conservative Party.
Mr Ross has since defended his position on the PM in the wake of the ‘extremely disappointing’ loss of 63 Tory councillors in the Scottish council elections.
Asked to justify his stance, Mr Ross had told the BBC: ‘There is no doubt that the results have been disappointing and that has largely been because of Partygate.
‘But it doesn’t mean this is the time to change the Prime Minister.’
‘Most people thought he was down and out’