London police said on Tuesday they would levy 20 fines related to parties held at Boris Johnson’s office and home that violated pandemic lockdown restrictions in 2020 and 2021, prompting further calls from the opposition to the prime minister resigns.
The recipients of the fines were not identified, but Boris’ office said he was not notified.
Police are investigating 12 parties held in Downing Street and at the official office, after an internal inquiry found that the prime minister’s staff held meetings with alcoholic beverages and that the British leader attended some of the events.
The revelations from the meetings, many of which came when Brits were unable to attend funerals or say goodbye to loved ones who died in hospital due to lockdown rules, were first reported in late 2021.
The fine for attending meetings with more than 15 people during the lockdown is £800.
The police action confirmed for the first time that official restrictions on the pandemic were violated by government officials.
The scandal threatened Boris’s job earlier this year when members of his own party called on him to step down and public confidence in his leadership plummeted – although the focus on Ukraine relieved some of the immediate pressure on him.
At that time, the prime minister said that all the rules were followed. He later apologized to Parliament for attending an event he claims he thought was work-related, and later to Queen Elizabeth for another party his staff had on the eve of her husband’s funeral.
Police said more fines could still be imposed.
