UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been fined for the lockdown-breaching party hosted in 2020
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected calls to stand down after he was fined for breaking his own Covid lockdown laws.
Fines were issued to Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who were both given fixed-penalty notices for attending the Prime Minister’s birthday celebration at Downing Street on June 19, 2020.
The gathering took place in the cabinet room, with Met Police now confirming a total of 50 infringements have been issued.
It’s believed Johnson and Sunak are the first sitting prime minister and chancellor to be criminally sanctioned.
Opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says “Britain deserves better” calling for both leaders to resign immediately.
Sunak has made no immediate comment following the fines being issued, stirring speculation he may actually stand down following a disastrous week of scandals.
The Chancellor has come under fire after details of his wealthy wife’s tax affairs came under scrutiny.
If he did resign, some analysts say this would put huge pressure on Johnson to follow suit.
So-far, Johnson has issued a a “full apology” rejecting calls to quit as further investigations continue.
In a statement Johnson says he “humbly accepts” he has broken the rules, but claims the gathering lasted less than 10 minutes and it “did not occur” to him that the event was wrong.
