Boris Johnson has refused to accept coronavirus lockdown laws were broken at the heart of his government despite the Metropolitan Police’s decision to issue 20 fines over rule-breaking parties. The Prime Minister’s position puts him at odds with his deputy, Dominic Raab, who said the Met’s decision to start sending out fixed penalty notices (FPNs) meant it was clear that the law was breached.
Mr Johnson ducked questions about his own future at today's PMQs as he was challenged by MPs about the 'partygate' scandal. An initial round of 20 FPNs have been issued as part of Scotland Yard’s investigation into a series of gatherings in 2020 and 2021.
Mr Raab, the Justice Secretary and a lawyer, said it was “clear there were breaches of the law”. "Clearly there were breaches of the regulations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “That is the only thing that can warrant the 20 fixed penalty notices. That must follow.”
