However, corruption is still a long way off.
According to British historians, Johnson was the first British Prime Minister to be found guilty of violating the law in modern times. And, in the end, the verdict of the parliament may be more important in the end than the assessment of the police.
On Tuesday, Johnson’s critics called for his resignation.
On June 19, 2020, the Prime Minister was fined for violating the rules of his government by attending a meeting of “two or more people inside the house” in the Cabinet Room on Downing Street.
It’s a Birthday party – About 30 people attended, song and cake – Prime Minister’s wife Gary Johnson is said to have arranged a surprise for her husband.
Gary Johnson and Treasury Secretary Rishi Sunak were among those quoted by police on Tuesday as part of a criminal investigation. A dozen government parties During the epidemic.
In a statement to broadcasters in the evening and in an interview with the BBC, Johnson said he had paid his fines and would “apologize once again.”
According to his account, one day when Govt was full of meetings and school visits, he “attended a brief meeting … lasting less than 10 minutes, during which I congratulated the staff.”
“I have to say frankly that at the time it didn’t seem like it might have violated the rules,” he said. “But of course the police found out differently. I fully respect the outcome of their investigation.”
The Prime Minister further said: “I understand the anger felt by many that I myself have failed to abide by the rules introduced by the government I have led to protect the public, and I wholeheartedly accept that the people have a right. Expect better. “
Like her husband, Gary Johnson’s spokeswoman said he would pay the fine.
London’s Metropolitan Police on Tuesday said they have now imposed a fine of 50 on the Prime Minister’s Office and Home and the nearby Cabinet Office in connection with the lockout.
Police Not named Who else has been fined, no matter what parties they attended or whether 50 fines went to 50 different people. But as the trial continues, those who attend more meetings could face higher fines – including Johnson.
Attendees are often believed to be government employees.
Those who are fined will be sent a “standard penalty notice” first. Then they can pay 200 200 ($ 263) – half if paid immediately. Or they have 28 days to fight the fines, an additional police investigation in this case – and maybe even a trip to the courtroom.
Although the fines are only two hundred pounds each, the political costs to Johnson and his government can be substantial.
In the past, the Prime Minister has sought to downplay parties as “work events”. He had earlier apologized for some of the meetings, called them wrong, and vowed to clean up the behavior on Downing Street. But, to the best of his knowledge, he reiterated that he and his staff had not violated any rules.
Now, Johnson is now associated with criminal behavior, which may be minor. And those who criticize him will hammer out that the Prime Minister is a pervert, even a liar, unbelievable.
His fate may have rested on the question of whether he deliberately misled Parliament when he assured that “all guidelines were fully followed in No. 10” and “no Govt rules were violated”.
Scottish President Nicola Sturgeon has said both Johnson and Sunak should resign. Opposition Workers’ Party leader Khair Stormer said there was “widespread crime” on 10 Downing Street, where Johnson lives and works.
Meanwhile, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, called on parliament to reconvene to discuss a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.
Within hours of the fines being announced on Tuesday, the prime minister’s press office continued to highlight Johnson’s role as wartime leader, giving reporters the reading of his earlier call with President Biden.
If his fellow Tories consider themselves fools, support for the prime minister may now dwindle within his own party.
Johnson’s fate is in the hands of fellow Conservative lawmakers, who could provoke a leadership challenge if 54 Conservative MPs submit letters of no confidence.
Steven Fielding, a political historian at the University of Nottingham, said Johnson may have been the first British Prime Minister to be found to have violated the law since the 17th century or earlier.
It was “shocking but not shocking,” he said.
“Among the biggest things, it is a great shock and corruption that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom lied about it in violation of his own laws.”
On the other hand, Fielding said, “We knew that before Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, he was lying and he was misleading the people to go where he wants to go. It’s been a long time coming and we’ve been looking forward to it.
Johnson has long had a loose relationship with the truth. He was fired from his job as a journalist at the Times of London for making a quote. He also lost his presidency of the Conservative Party because he once admitted to lying about a love affair.
What if it was found that both Johnson and Sunak attended only a birthday party organized by the Prime Minister’s wife, Singlang? Perhaps many would consider it a misdemeanor rather than a crime.
Police are investigating 12 meetingsIncluding quiz games, wine and cheese celebrations, “BYOB” invitations – and alcohol brought in by wheelbarrows.
These took place during government-mandated locks, where families were denied access to loved ones in hospitals and the number of people attending funerals was low.
There was a party The day before the funeral of Prince PhilipA quiet goodbye at Windsor Castle, best remembered for the film Queen Elizabeth II sits alone And wore a mask at St. George’s Church, where the number of mourners was 30.
An earlier internal investigation into the meetings showed “serious failure”, leadership failure and excessive alcohol consumption in adhering to standards expected by some government officials.
Analysts said that by referring to the “guidance and rules” surrounding the parties, by deliberately misleading Parliament, Johnson would turn his attention to the question of whether he had violated the “Ministerial Act” or the code of conduct to be followed by British politicians. Downing Street “followed at all times.” If he violates the law, he must resign according to the convention. The British Prime Minister is responsible for enforcing that code.
In late 2020, Johnson’s Home Secretary Priti Patel was found guilty of violating the code after an investigation into allegations of bullying. Johnson has not taken any further action and he is still in the role.
Given the war in Ukraine, some critics have questioned whether this is the right time for Britain to change its leaders. Others point out that Britain changed prime ministers during World War I and World War II.
Sunak is the head of the treasury and is responsible for the country’s finances and budgets. It was one of the “best offices in the state” and when Johnson first received calls to resign over the parties, many Conservative party members speculated that Sunak might be a good alternative.
But not anymore. Sunak has been under intense surveillance since last week, when British newspapers revealed that his wife Akshata Murthy did not pay British taxes on foreign income.
Murthy is a billionaire who owns millions of shares in Infosys, an Indian technology company founded by his father. Although Murthy lived with her husband in the UK, she sought “non-residential” status in British tax filings. His tax status is used by many dual citizens. This is legal, but the optics are terrible.
Until the arrival of the moving vans last week, Sunak and Murthy were staying at the Chancellor’s residence at 11 Downing St.
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