An initial 20 fines have been by the Metropolitan Police over the gatherings held in Downing Street over lockdown, with the force saying that there was still a “significant amount” of evidence to be analsyed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not among the recipients of a fine, his spokesperson confirmed, with No 10 previously saying that they would tell reporters if the PM did receive a fixed penalty notice.
Detectives refused to name any of those receiving fines, saying that the secrecy was in line with national policy protecting the identities of offenders given fixed penalty notices and similar penalties such as cautions or speeding fines.
Senior Tory MPs insisted that he should not have to stand down if he is fined, pleading with backbenchers not to engage in a new Tory civil war over his future, arguing that there were bigger issues to deal with including the Ukraine conflict and the cost-of-living crisis.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told Talk Radio: “All these things require big leadership and Boris Johnson has in these areas stepped up and we need to make sure that we don’t disappear into ourselves and start arguing about this.”
However, this view was not shared by Labour deputy leader Angel Rayner, who said: “The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the public, which is why he’s got to go.”
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Monday’s Talking Point: What do you think about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock?
Penonpaper said: “Shame on the Academy, on Will Smith and anyone who applauded this actor during the Oscar broadcast.”
