The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Richie Sunak have been fined for violating COVID-19 rules. As well as the wife of Prime Minister Carrie Johnson. How did you get here? Here is a brief summary of what happened and what might happen next.
What happened?
In early April, an ongoing police investigation led to 10 fines on Downing Street and 20 on charges of breach of lock in other UK government offices. The London Underground announced another 30 fines this Tuesday, and on Downing Street they said Johnson and Sunak were among those sanctioned. Kerry Johnson’s spokeswoman said she was also served a ticket.
How did it all start?
In November 2021, the newspaper TheDailyMirror It was reported that a year earlier, Johnson had delivered a speech at a farewell ceremony when England was in full custody over COVID-19, and that a Christmas party was held in Downing Street in December.
Government spokesmen argued that the rules had always been followed, but new allegations were made. One week later, someone leaked a video to ITV showing Downing Street staff joking about what the party looked like in December 2020.
How many events were announced?
Between mid-May 2020 and April 2021, there are reports of more than 15 incidents that allegedly violated the rules. One of them, the newspaper Guardian Taken photo, it was a wine and cheese gathering at Downing Street Garden on May 15, 2020. There are also allegations of parties that were advertised as “bring your drink” to the same garden and another to Johnson’s apartment, which was held five times. The day after Dominic Cummings resigned (November 2020). There are other allegations of two “alcoholic” late night parties being held simultaneously on Downing Street, the day before Prince Philip’s funeral, in April 2021.
What are the meetings for which Johnson and Sunak are suspended?
While police said they would not disclose which parties each fine was intended for, they confirmed that Boris Johnson’s fine was linked to an unexpected birthday in honor of the Prime Minister on June 19, 2020 in Downing Street.
Sunak also attended that meeting, though it seemed partly accidental: he was ahead of the meeting. It is believed that Kerry Johnson’s ticket is related to the same party, but this detail has not been confirmed.
Sunak is not believed to have attended any of the other parties under investigation, but it is possible that he and Carrie Johnson were still fined for other acts.
Will Johnson or Sunak have to resign?
According to Labor MPs, the Liberal Democrats and almost every other opposition party, the answer is yes. His argument is that in the House of Commons, Johnson and Sunak categorically denied any wrongdoing. That is, they both cheated on Parliament, which is considered to be the reason for the resignation in the Code of Ministers.
But there seems to be little desire among Conservative MPs to replace Johnson. Partly because of the war in Ukraine, but also because the minister who appears to be his replacement is Sunak, whose reputation has also been damaged by fines and his wife’s tax efforts last week to avoid paying taxes. United Kingdom. That said, things can change quickly: we are in an unknown political area.
This Wednesday, a member of Johnson’s government resigned in protest: Justice Secretary David Wolfson said the prime minister’s behavior was “inconsistent with the rule of law.”
What did Johnson and Sunak say?
In a televised video, Boris Johnson apologized, but insisted that at the time he did not consider the birthday party illegal, which he described as a “short meeting in a cabinet room” with work colleagues and lasting less than 10 minutes. He added that he understood the outrage of public opinion and that his actions “did not live up to” expectations.
Sunak apologized “unconditionally.” A spokesman for Carrie Johnson said the prime minister’s wife had paid the fine and that he had “unconditionally apologized”.
What happens next?
Downing Street says Johnson will not comment further until the police investigation is complete. But that could leave many weeks, and MPs from the Labor Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party have already demanded a meeting at the House of Commons, which is currently on Easter break.
What happened to Sue Gray’s report?
Sue Gray, a senior official specializing in ethics investigations, was tasked with preparing the report after the media repeatedly reported on government parties. His report ended when police were late in deciding to investigate possible criminal offenses, so only a brief summary was published. Authorities say Gray’s full report will be released when the police investigation is completed and about a week has passed since the police findings were filed.
Has anything like this ever happened?
This is believed to be the first time a prime minister or minister has broken the law while in office.
Translated by Francisco de Zarate
Source: El Diario
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
