Khan demands Met answer on how Johnson avoided fine
THE Mayor of London has invoked legal powers to demand the Met Police explain why the Prime Minister was not fined for attending an alcohol-fuelled leaving party in Downing Street.
Sadiq Khan has written to acting commissioner Sir Stephen House – using powers granted to all police and crime commissioners – requesting urgent answers about Scotland Yard’s handling of the partygate investigation as he is concerned that the current lack of clarity risks eroding public trust and confidence in the force.
While a mayor has no power to intervene in operational policing matters, Mr Khan has made the request under legislation which sets out the relationship between police and crime commissioners and chief constables.
Scotland Yard has so far refused to elaborate on why it decided to issue some people with fines for attending illegal events, but let others off.
But the Met has come under intense pressure to explain its findings after photographs emerged showing Boris Johnson drinking at a leaving party in No 10 on Nov 13 2020.
At least one other person who was at the event received a fixed penalty notice, but it is understood Mr Johnson was not even investigated over his attendance.
One of the 15 attendees said: “I can’t work out the reason why he’s not been fined and other people have. The Met’s a shambles. They’ve been told a lot of stuff and they’ve just ignored it. It’s so obviously a breach. Whatever way you look at it, it’s a breach. None of us can figure it out.”
Downing Street has suggested that the reason Mr Johnson was not fined was because he had only briefly attended on his way from his office to the private flat he shares with his wife and children above No 11.
Last night, a senior police source said it would be “unthinkable” for a chief constable to refuse a request from the mayor or a PCC to explain a decision in a high-profile investigation.
“On a matter like this where public trust and confidence might be damaged, a police chief will have to comply. They are not a law unto themselves,” the source said.