Senior Welsh Conservatives have given their full backing to Boris Johnson to stay on as Prime Minister as he faces growing calls to resign after being fined for breaking Covid lockdown laws.
We put Welsh Tory politicians on the spot as they gathered in Penarth to launch their manifesto for the local elections in Wales on May 5. The five who spoke to us all said that the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak both had their full backing despite being issued fixed penalty notices for breaching the rules by attending a birthday gathering for Mr Johnson at which they sang and enjoyed a Union Jack cake during the first lockdown in June 2020, despite months of denial that any parties ever took place. See everything we know about that party here.
Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart compared Boris Johnson getting a fine for breaking Covid rules to Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan being banned from driving for repeated speeding offences. See more on that here. He also told BBC Wales that he doesn't think the PM should quit even if he's fined again.
Mr Hart, who is also MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, told WalesOnline: "I don't think [Mr Johnson or Mr Sunak] should resign, and I'll explain why. I don't want to stand here and justify or excuse what's going on because even by their own admission, these events or occasions, whatever you call them, shouldn't happen. They've held their hands up to that. It was a misjudgement at the time, everybody including me wishes we could turn the clock back about so many things in many respects over the pandemic and this is no exception.
"It has been recognised by the police as being worthy of a fixed penalty notice - that's been issued and that's been paid. I don't think it necessarily follows that if some in politics or in public life qualifies for a fixed penalty notice, the end of their career should come with it. I mean, if it did, for example, Eluned Morgan would have had to resign after she got an £800 fine for a driving offence the other day. Nobody, including me, was suggesting that should be the end of her career and I don't think other public figures who get FPNs should necessarily automatically see the end of their career."
The news has prompted outrage from across politics and from the general public, not just at Mr Johnson breaking the laws that he set, but also his refusal to step down despite being the first serving Prime Minister to be sanctioned by the police. Bereaved families who were denied the chance to say goodbye to loved ones by following Covid restrictions while politicians partied are among those calling for the PM to go. You can read what WalesOnline readers had to say about the breach here.
Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Andrew RT Davies MS said he empathised with those who had lost loved ones during the pandemic after following the restrictions, having been unable to say goodbye to his father before he died in 2008. However, he added that he does not believe that the Prime Minister and Chancellor should not resign, arguing instead that they need to "get on with the job" and deal with the Ukraine conflict and the cost of living crisis.
"They've apologised, I don't think they should resign," he said. "There's major issues to be dealt with from the Chancellor's perspective, dealing with the cost of living pressures, which he has done by taking five pence out of the fuel price and making sure that there's money on the table. We've also lifted the living wage from £8.70 to £9.50. We also need to make sure that we deal with the Ukrainian crisis. Boris Johnson was there on Saturday, leading the charge to make sure that humanitarian aid is on the table for Ukrainian refugees as well as defensive aid to make sure that we can repel President Putin's horrendous acts of genocide.
"As someone who tragically lost his father back in 2008 in hospital and sadly wasn't able to be at his bedside, I have empathy with anyone who is unable to be with their loved one when they die, because you never get over that. There's not a day goes by where I don't think of the things I might have said to him if I'd had those last moments with him."
He added: "What's really important here is that the Prime Minister is committed to going to the floor of parliament when the Sue Gray report is published in its entirety and answering any questions put to him by MPs. He's apologised, accepted the fine and paid it. When we think of the two major issues that the country faces now, the Ukrainian crisis and cost of living, what's really important is that we have a prime minister and a Chancellor now who will get on with the job."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has led the resignation calls, saying both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak should quit. He added: "Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also tweeted: "This is a government in crisis neglecting a country in crisis. Parliament must be recalled for a vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister."
However, top Conservatives have stuck by the Prime Minister, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisting Mr Johnson "didn't knowingly break the law". Tory MP Michael Fabricant also defended the PM and suggested that the rule-breaking parties at Downing Street were little different to what had gone on in other workplaces during the pandemic.
Issuing an apology after being issued the fixed penalty notice, Mr Johnson said that he "fully respects” the outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigation and that he accepts “in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better”. The Chancellor also offered an "unreserved apology" but signalled he also would not quit.
Asked whether he believed Johnson and Sunak should go, Sam Rowlands, MS for North Wales said it was "up to them what they do", adding that he was primarily focused on the upcoming council elections on May 5. He said: "It's been a really difficult time for people, but throughout the pandemic we saw a government and a Prime Minister that cared and was responsible for ensuring the vaccine rollout was successful. It was really impressive and saw record numbers of people receive the vaccine in record time. We had furlough schemes which kept people in work and ensured that during the pandemic we had an economy which is the most thriving in the G7, and that's what the Prime Minister has delivered.
Welsh Conservative chairman Glyn Davies said: "No, I don't [think they should resign]. I think they've recognised that they did what they shouldn't have done and they misjudged the event they were at. They've accepted that and they've accepted the police judgement. They might disagree with it but they've accepted the police judgement and paid the fine. I think it's time for us to concentrate on the huge, huge issues the government faces."
"Let's look at things as they are," added Cllr Siân-Elin Melbourne, candidate for Lisvane and Thornhill. "Boris Johnson has apologised for those issues and has paid those fines. Let's get to the crux of this, this is a local election for local people looking at how our communities are going to improve, how our communities are going to get better road infrastructure, how we can improve the bins and potholes and removing dog waste and everything else. It is communities that we are looking at and our local values are really, really important."
WalesOnline also sent the same question to every Welsh Conservative MP and MS via email, but only received one reply. That response came from Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn , who said the news was "disappointing" but insisted that now is "not the time for hasty action".
She added: "The Prime Minister has been a huge supporter of Anglesey and a staunch advocate of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa and all the investment and jobs that brings. This makes this news of a fine for breaking Covid regulations very disappointing because I believe he has done a great job with Brexit, the pandemic and now leading the international response to Ukraine.
"Now is not the time for any hasty action when we face such challenges and war rages on our continent although I do recognise and understand the anger of those who kept to the rules and those who lost loved ones. I want to hear from the PM and the Chancellor and they need to explain. I want to listen to my constituents over the next few days and I want to speak to my colleagues when Parliament returns next week."
Welsh Secretary Mr Hart added: "I think the accusation of him lying to the public is not one that I wouldn't use because, as we know, and as he said on countless occasions, the information that he was provided, as far as he was concerned was absolutely 100% rock solid at the time. Now the fact is that the police have taken the view that he warranted a fixed penalty notice. That's the appropriate sanction for a breach of regulations of this nature. He has said, hands up, look, I'm really sorry, this was a misjudgement, but we respect the rule of law and what the police have come up with. He's been issued the sanction, he's paid it and as far as I'm concerned, I think anybody in public life should be subjected to the same level of sanctions as anybody else, otherwise there would have to be a distinction in the law. There isn't and he is subject to exactly the same terms and conditions as everybody else."
"Is this ideal? No, of course it isn't. We all feel embarrassed. We all feel unbelievably frustrated and we wish we could turn the clock back and just do things differently. Barely a day goes by when I don't think that anyway. But he's he's held his hands up, he has apologised and if my own constituency in west Wales is anything to go by, a lot of people have contacted me about this situation and almost all of them have actually sought an apology, contrition and a guarantee that the problems which led to this situation have been rectified. Very few have actually said he should resign as well. So I'm very influenced by probably the most accurate measurement of public opinion that I have."
