LONDON
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized on Tuesday after receiving a fine from the police for attending his own birthday party in 2020 in breach of lockdown rules at the time.
In a statement, he said: "Today I've received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police relating to an event on June 19, 2020. Let me say immediately that I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology. And in a spirit of openness and humility I want to be completely clear about what happened on that date.”
Johnson said June 19 was his birthday, and that after chairing a number of government meetings “there was a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room shortly after 2pm lasting for less than 10 minutes during which people I work with kindly passed on their good wishes.”
“I have to say in good frankness at that time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules,” he said.
Johnson continued by saying that the police found otherwise and that he fully respected the outcome of their investigation.
“I understand the anger that many will feel that I myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules that the Government I lead had introduced to protect the public and I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better,” he said.
Johnson refused to resign, instead, saying he felt an “even greater sense of obligation” to deliver on the priorities of the British people as he saw them.
"I will take forward that task with due humility, but with maximum determination to fulfil my duty and do what is best for the country I serve,” he said.
Johnson is the first sitting prime minister to receive a punishment for breaking the law.
A snap poll by YouGov found that 57% of people believe that Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who also received a fine, should resign.
The same poll found that 75% of people believed that Johnson “knowingly lied about breaching Covid-19 rules."
In a statement, Sunak also apologized but refused to resign.
“I can confirm I have received a Fixed Penalty Notice from the Metropolitan Police with regards to a gathering held on 19th June in Downing Street. I offer an unreserved apology,” Sunak said.
“I understand that for figures in public office, the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence. I respect the decision that has been made and have paid the fine.
“I know people sacrificed a great deal during Covid, and they will find this situation upsetting. I deeply regret the frustration and anger caused and I am sorry. Like the Prime Minister, I am focused on delivering for the British people at this challenging time.”
Prime minister’s wife and chancellor fined
Police announced earlier on Tuesday that at least 30 more fines have been issued as part of an ongoing investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and the government. This brings the total number of fines to over 50.
Police said the June 19 event took place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and was “a gathering of two or more people indoors in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street,” and so in breach of lockdown rules at the time.
The prime minister’s wife Carrie Johnson was also fined for the event, according to her spokeswoman, who added that Carrie had paid the fine and “apologises unreservedly.”
Revelations in recent months of the clandestine parties, which took place as officials urged ordinary Britons to avoid gatherings outside their immediate circle, embarrassed the government, and led to calls for Johnson to resign. His apologies failed to quell the controversy, displaced from headlines only by Russia's war on Ukraine, but the fines gave the furor new life.
“The investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress,” said a Metropolitan Police statement.
“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made to Acro,” it added, referring to the UK Criminal Records Office or Acro, which is responsible for issuing the fines.
Calls for resignation
News of the fines sparked fresh calls for the prime minister to quit.
Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted: “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.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Boris Johnson must resign. He broke the law and repeatedly lied to parliament about it.
"The basic values of integrity and decency – essential to the proper working of any parliamentary democracy – demand that he go. And he should take his out of touch chancellor with him."
Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party’s leader in Westminster, tweeted a letter calling for Johnson’s resignation, adding: “Parliament must now be recalled so Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak can give their resignation statements.”
Douglas Ross, the current leader of the Scottish Conservatives, previously called for Johnson’s resignation over the Downing Street parties, but subsequently retracted his demand.
Today, he admitted that the public was “rightly furious” at the parties and that he shared their “fury.” He added, however, that “it wouldn’t be right to remove the Prime Minister at this time” in the middle of the war in Ukraine as it would “destabilise” the UK government.
However, Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader and current member of the House of Lords, called on Johnson to go.
She tweeted: “Met confirms what we already knew: the PM introduced liberty-curtailing rules for public health reasons. This caused huge hardship for those separated from ill or dying loved ones. He then broke the rules he imposed on the country & lost the moral authority to lead. He should go.”
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries was the first Cabinet minister to defend Johnson, tweeting: “PM has been clear about what happened on 19th June 2020 & offered a full apology. It was a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room, less than 10 minutes during a busy working day. PM is at his best when delivering on the priorities of the British people which he will continue to do.”
The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group said there is “simply no way either the Prime Minister or Chancellor can continue” in their roles, adding: “If they had any decency they would be gone by tonight.”
