Police have handed penalties to Downing Street staff for a party held the night before Prince Philip’s death. This is the first time Scotland Yard has determined that Covid laws have been broken inside No 10 in the heart of government. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not been fined as he did not attend the event, BBC reported.
The news outlet, quoting sources, said that 20 fines have been against people who attended the lockdown-breaking parties since January. Out of the 20, the first tranche of fines has been against the Downing Street staff. There will be no revelation of beneficiaries’ identities unless they file a legal challenge to the fine.
Prohibition of internal gathering during lockdown
However, the Telegraph on Monday reported, Helen MacNamara, the former director of ethics in the cabinet office, faced fines in connection with a party in June 2020. Two incidents occurred on April 8, 2021, according to The Guardian. The first celebration was for Johnson’s head of communications, James Slack, to celebrate his leaving. However, the second was for Johnson’s personal photographers. England had a stringent curfew at the time, and there was a prohibition on all interior mixing.
According to accounts, the Met police handed questionnaires to many of those who partied in No 10 on April 16. They asked them to provide a reasonable excuse for the Downing Street party. As per the reports, the Downing Street personnel smashed the swing in the No.10 garden. The Metropolitan Police Service is examining 12 events that occurred in January. They are also looking for those violating the lockdown regulations.