The police investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and White Hall has finally concluded. The Metropolitan Police clarified that the number of people to receive fixed penalty notices (FPNs) is 83.
Scotland Yard said 35 men received a total of 53 FPNs and 48 women received a total of 73. Meanwhile No 10 said the Prime Minister was “pleased” the investigation had concluded and that officers had told Mr Johnson he would not receive a second fine, having received one for the event on his 56th birthday.
The conclusion of Operation Hillman paves the way for the potentially damaging publication of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry. Ms Gray's report will set out ‘a general understanding of the nature of the gatherings, including attendance, the setting and the purpose’.
Downing Street has said its intention is to publish the report in the form it is received as soon as possible. Officials expect the report is most likely to be handed over next week. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Sue Gray will complete her work and then hand that over and then we will publish that as soon as possible.
"That has not happened yet. So in effect, timings are a matter for her, still, in terms of when she completes her report.” Asked if No 10 intends to publish any photographic or documentary evidence included in the body of Ms Gray’s report, or in some sort of appendix, he said: “It’s a hypothetical situation, but our intention will be to publish the report as received as much as possible.
“You’ll know from the interim report … we will need to carry out any sort of requisite data protection checks. But again, just to be clear … as it didn’t before, I don’t envisage that to be an issue.”
Downing Street also said Mr Johnson will “talk in more detail” about the scandal after the report is published. Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper joined Labour and the Liberal Democrats in calling for Ms Gray’s report to be published swiftly.
The conclusion of the investigation has led to renewed calls for the Prime Minister to resign. Sir Keir Starmer, who is currently under investigation by Durham police for attending an event in April 2021, said Mr Johnson set a culture of 'industrial scale law-breaking' in No 10.
He told reporters in Leeds he wanted to see the 'full Sue Gray report published' and that 'there’s no further hiding places for the Prime Minister on that.' But there is no sign of Mr Johnson stepping back yet. Previously, the Prime Minister refused to say whether he would resign if he was fined by the Met Police over partygate.
He has remained confident of his leadership abilities since being hit with the FPN in April. Meanwhile policing minister Kit Malthouse told reporters he reckons the Prime Minister wants to 'move on' to the 'really big issues' now the investigation has concluded.
He said Mr Johnson had paid the fine and apologised, adding: "I’m sure he and the rest of the country now want to move to the really big issues, like the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, dealing with drugs … and that’s what we’re going to focus on from now on.”
It is understood the Prime Minister’s wife Carrie Johnson has also been told she faces no further action while Chancellor Rishi Sunak was also yet to receive another fine, after both were fined over the Prime Minister’s birthday gathering in June 2020.
