London, March 31, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – A second British Cabinet minister has acknowledged, that the issuing of 20 fines over the partygate scandal meant coronavirus lockdown laws were broken in Whitehall, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusal to accept they were.
International Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said the Metropolitan Police’s decision to issue the fines meant criminality had been discovered, echoing the view of Justice Secretary and deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab.
Downing Street has so far refused to accept laws had been broken, insisting Johnson would have more to say once the police investigation was complete.
The Metropolitan Police refused to say on Thursday whether the fixed penalty notices (FPN), which were referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office to be doled out, had formally been issued.
However, it is not believed that the prime minister is among those to receive a fine.
Asked on Wednesday by a member of parliament on the Commons Liaison Committee whether he was set to receive an FPN, the prime minister said: “I’m sure you would know if I were.”
Previously, Raab who is a qualified lawyer, said to the BBC it was “clear there were breaches of the law.”
The fines being issued by the Met, relate to investigations into a series of around a dozen events in Downing Street, and Whitehall while England was subject to coronavirus lockdown restrictions – including one in the Prime Minister’s flat.
Although Johnson is not expected to be among the first group to be hit with fines, the Met have indicated they expect to issue more fixed penalty notices as their investigations continue.
GNA