Ministers defend Boris Johnson over Downing Street party on eve of Prince Philip’s funeral

UK ministers dismissed accusations that Boris Johnson misled parliament over what he knew about Downing Avenue events held in breach of coronavirus guidelines, saying he was given the “mistaken data” in regards to the gatherings.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Brexit alternatives minister, defended Johnson on Monday after it emerged that fines had been issued to Downing Avenue workers for a celebration held at Quantity 10 the night time earlier than Queen Elizabeth sat alone through the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, in compliance with the coronavirus restrictions in place on the time.

Whitehall officers confirmed that fixed-penalty notices had been obtained by a few of those that attended the get together on April 16 2021.

The Metropolitan Police is investigating no less than 12 gatherings that happened in Whitehall in 2020 and 2021 when Covid-19 curbs had been in pressure in England, together with a number of at 10 Downing Avenue.

An preliminary 20 fixed-penalty notices had been issued final week for breaches of Covid rules, however the police mentioned they might not title those that had obtained them.

Johnson final yr mentioned of the gatherings that “the [Covid] pointers had been adopted always”, however the Metropolitan police has concluded that breaches of rules had been made within the “partygate” scandal.

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour chief, has accused Johnson of deceptive the Commons. Talking final week, he mentioned the prime minister had breached the ministerial code, which says that authorities members who mislead the Commons ought to resign.

However Rees-Mogg advised LBC radio on Monday that “the truth that the prime minister was given mistaken data doesn’t imply he misled individuals”.

“The prime minister mentioned he was advised the principles had been adopted however that seems to not be appropriate. If the prime minister is advised data that’s incorrect and passes that data on he has made no deliberate try to mislead anyone,” he mentioned.

Whitehall officers on Monday confirmed that Helen MacNamara, the previous director of ethics within the Cupboard Workplace, was within the first tranche of those that obtained notices final week. It’s understood that the discover pertains to a leaving get together held within the Cupboard Workplace in June 2020.

In an announcement, MacNamara mentioned: “I’m sorry for the error of judgment I’ve proven. I’ve accepted and paid the fixed-penalty discover.”

It emerged on Monday that fines have additionally been issued to those that partied in Quantity 10 the night time earlier than Prince Philip’s funeral. About 30 individuals attended the 2 leaving events which later mixed into one, with workers dancing into the early hours of the morning.

The next morning the Queen was pictured sitting alone through the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, which was attended by simply 30 members of the family to be able to adjust to coronavirus restrictions.

Downing Avenue refused to touch upon the newest revelations and mentioned that Johnson would offer an official assertion following the conclusion of the police inquiry.

“The prime minister desires to remark on the conclusion of the method and never in the course of it,” the prime minister’s spokesperson mentioned.

Rees-Mogg, who on the Conservative get together’s spring convention final month described the “partygate scandal” as “fluff”, sought to minimize the controversy.

“Now we have a conflict happening in Ukraine, we’ve atrocities being carried out, we’ve footage coming by that present the large brutality of Putin’s military,” he mentioned.

“Within the context of what’s going on, not simply with Ukraine however with the cost-of-living disaster, this isn’t crucial situation on this planet. Having mentioned that, individuals ought to clearly obey the legislation.”

Requested whether or not the prime minister ought to resign if fined by the Met, Simon Hart, Wales secretary, argued that voters wished an apology however not resignations. He added that it could not be “applicable” to have interaction in a “six-week self-indulgent management contest” in mild of the scenario in Ukraine.

“The world has moved on a substantial distance,” he mentioned.