Investigators in the Partygate affair are urging Boris Johnson to take ‘responsibility’ for celebrations during lockdown. Right-wing activists now also want to hold the London police responsible – and are even threatening legal action.
London police may face charges over their investigation into the Partygate affair. As the Good Law Project initiative announced on its website, it is calling on Scotland Yard to investigate further Prime Minister Boris Johnson about three illegal meetings at Downing Street during the pandemic.
The head of government is said to have been present at all three events, but did not receive a penalty order. By the time the investigation into the affair was complete, Johnson had only received one penalty order. Other government officials, however, have been fined for attending the same events that Johnson got away with.
“We do not understand the decision to punish some of those present, but not the Prime Minister. As we understand the law, everyone involved in an illegal meeting has committed a crime,” the rule of law activists said in a statement. A total of 127 penal orders were issued as part of the police investigation into Partygate for a whole series of meetings during the pandemic.
In an internal report just released by government official Sue Gray, the government was made serious allegations. The meetings “should not have been allowed,” it said. Despite this, Johnson declined to resign. If the police do not resume investigations into the prime minister, the Good Law Project’s lawyers will demand a statement that they want to check for legality.
If Scotland Yard does not respond within 14 days, they threaten further legal action, including a judicial review of the investigation.