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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Craig Meighan

Boris Johnson must come before parliament to explain rule-breaking, SNP urge

Boris Johnson was among 126 Downing Street and Whitehall staff to be fined over lockdown parties

BORIS Johnson must come before Parliament to explain his rule-breaking after the Metropolitan Police concluded its investigation into partygate, the SNP have said.

Authorities handed out 126 Fixed Penalty Notices to people - including the Prime Minister and Chancellor - who held and attended parties in Downing Street and Whitehall during lockdown when social distancing rules were in place.

Sue Gray's report into Downing Street gatherings is now set to be published this week.

It was previously delayed following the Met's decision to launch its own investigation.

However, concerns were raised after it emerged that the civil servant had met with the Prime Minister.

The meeting has prompted outrage from opposition parties, with Labour urging the Tories to "urgently explain" why it took place.

A No 10 spokesperson denied any interference in the looming report, adding that Johnson was not the one who called Gray in.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has demanded that the delayed report is published immediately and include the names of those within the UK Government who broke the rules.

The MP said it was "beyond doubt" that Boris Johnson misled parliament over his involvement in the Whitehall parties.

Blackford said: “Now that the police investigation into UK government lockdown parties has concluded, proving that Boris Johnson and his government wilfully broke the rules they made and expected everyone else to follow, he must come before Parliament to explain his reckless conduct.

"The sheer scale of the partygate scandal is jaw-dropping - with 126 fines issued to people within the UK Tory government, including to the Prime Minister and Chancellor."

The SNP MP said while most people in the UK were following lockdown rules "members of the Tory government were partying and eating cake".

He continued: “The Sue Gray report, which must be published today, and Privileges Committee investigation will set out its own further conclusions - but it is beyond doubt that laws were broken at Downing Street and the Prime Minister misled Parliament.

“For as long as Tory MPs allow Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to remain in post, the Westminster government is continuing to stick two fingers up to all those who followed the rules and made sacrifices.

"It’s time for Scotland to rid itself of this Westminster Tory government and the staggering sense of entitlement of those within it."

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