• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Downing Street party fiends can pay fines to avoid police interviews

No 10 staff have reportedly been told that the Met investigation is "nothing to worry about".

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2022-01-28 15:58
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Politicians and officials who attended alleged lockdown-busting parties at Downing Street will be able to pay fines instead of being interviewed by the police.

Partygoers can expect to be issued fixed-penalty notices as recognition of a minor offence. The recipients will not be made public unless they challenge their fines in court.

Scotland Yard has been criticised by legal experts and Tory MPs for urging Sue Gray to limit the publication of her investigation into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in No 10.

The Metropolitan Police asked the senior civil servant to make only “minimal reference” to events now subject to a criminal investigation, throwing her report into disarray and potentially buying more time for Boris Johnson as he faces a threat to his leadership.

‘Nothing to worry about’

The force argued the constraints on the Cabinet Office report are necessary to “avoid any prejudice to our investigation”, meaning it faces being watered down or a lengthy delay.

No 10 aides have reportedly been told not to worry about the police probe into Partygate because a fine is the worst punishment they will receive.

Dan Rosenfield, Boris Johnson’s closest adviser, is believed to have suggested that even if staff are found to have breached lockdown laws, it will not end their careers.

RelatedPosts

Labor win presents ‘great opportunity’ in fight to free Julian Assange

‘A rare Murdoch defeat’: Reaction as Scott Morrison accepts defeat in Australian elections

Labor topples Conservatives in Australia as Scott Morrison suffers defeat

Former Tory Party leader calls for benefits to be boosted in line with inflation

At a meeting after the Metropolitan Police announced its investigation, the Downing Street chief of staff told more than 30 colleagues: “At worst it will be like getting a fixed penalty fine for speeding, nothing to worry about.”

Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions (DPP), said on Friday that Scotland Yard’s move to censor the report seems “disproportionate” in the face of “very powerful” public interest in the report’s swift publication, unless there is “more serious conduct” being investigated.

‘Lame duck’

Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale, one of the Conservatives to call for Johnson’s resignation, described it as a “farce” which could buy more time for the “lame duck” Prime Minister.

Opposition politicians warned of a “stitch-up” amid growing calls for the official report into potential Covid breaches in Downing Street and wider Government to be published in full, with it having the potential to trigger a vote of no confidence in Johnson.

In a statement on Friday morning, Scotland Yard said: “For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report.

“The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.”

The statement indicates Gray will either have to make significant changes to her report before publication or delay it until after the police inquiry concludes.

Related: Tory who said Boris was ‘ambushed with cake’ now claims there was no cake

Tags: Boris JohnsonPartygate

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Move to enshrine animal feelings in law ‘virtue signalling PR’, says Tory Lord

Guinness World Record-breaking NHS nurse has achievement recognised

Watch – Police release CCTV footage showing moment driver ploughed into doorstaff at nightclub

Plant-based diet linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes

Set For Life Results for Monday 7 June 2021

The world of language in business

Woman rescued in Tamil Nadu floods is victim of India’s anti-leprosy laws

Historic month for historic shipping firm

Breaking Deadline Day News: More good news for Arsenal as Mesut Ozil signs new contract becoming Gunners’ highest paid player

City lawyer “falls from grace” after humiliating attack on woman he branded an “Australian slut”

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.