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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Warren Murray

‘Liars and lawbreakers’: what the papers say about Johnson’s Partygate fine

Boris Johnson
The UK newspaper front pages on Wednesday 13 April
The UK newspaper front pages on Wednesday 13 April. Composite: UK newspapers

As might be expected, there is a polarity to the coverage in today’s papers of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak being among those to receive a fixed-penalty notice over Partygate.

“PM: I broke my own law but I refuse to go”, with Johnson and Sunak shown side by side, is on the front page of the Guardian.

Guardian front page, 13 April 2022
The Guardian’s front page on Wednesday Photograph: Guardian

“Led by liars & lawbreakers” – that’s the assessment of the Mirror, which says the number of fines issued to government insiders has risen to a “shameful 50”.

“No 10 partygate shame: PM and the chancellor broke law” is the Metro’s splash headline, and like others it points out Carrie Johnson also receives a fixed-penalty notice.

Metro’s front page, 13 April 2022
Metro’s front page. Photograph: Metro

The Financial Times joins in: “Fines for breach of Covid law pile pressure on Johnson and Sunak”.

Financial Times front page, 13 April
The Financial Times. Photograph: Financial Times

The i throws it forward a bit: “PM refuses to quit – and faces new party fines.”

The Times goes with: “Johnson refuses to quit over lockdown party fine”.

The Times, 13 April 2022
The Times on Wednesday. Photograph: The Times

Around here is where the pendulum starts to swing. “People have the right to expect better” – the Telegraph hits on a conciliatory line.

“PM: I’m Sorry, I Will Do Better For Britain” – mea culpa in the Express.

“I’m sorry – but I have work to do”, says the Sun.

And the Mail gets fully behind the PM and goes all out against his critics saying: “Don’t they know there’s a war going on?” as it adds that “Boris was there for nine minutes. Carrie’s less than five …”

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