Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson departing 10 Downing Street yesterday.

Boris Johnson faces no further action in 126-fine partygate investigation

Downing Street said the Met Police told the UK Prime Minister he will not get another fine as they closed the investigation.

LAST UPDATE | 19 May 2022

POLICE HAVE TOLD Boris Johnson he faces no further action over lockdown breaches, Downing Street said, after the Metropolitan Police concluded its partygate investigation with a total of 126 fixed-penalty notices.

Scotland Yard said today it had issued fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) for events in Downing Street and across Whitehall spanning eight separate days, with 28 people being hit with multiple fines.

The Metropolitan Police today released a statement concluding the investigations, and giving the total figure for the cost of Operation Hillman as £460,000 (€544,299.60)

No 10 said the British Prime Minister was “pleased” the investigation had concluded and that officers had told Johnson he would not receive a second fine, having received one for the event on his 56th birthday.

The conclusion of Operation Hillman into breaches spanning 11 months paves the way for the potentially damaging publication of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry.

It is understood the Prime Minister’s wife Carrie Johnson has also been told she faces no further action while Chancellor Rishi Sunak was also yet to receive another fine, after both were fined over the Prime Minister’s birthday gathering in June 2020.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Met has confirmed that they are taking no further action with regards to the Prime Minister.”

Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper joined Labour and the Liberal Democrats in calling for Gray’s report to be published swiftly.

Officials said the aim is to publish her potentially damning report as soon as possible, although realistically this means next week looks likely.

2.47956766 The Met Police issued fines to 90 different individuals having investigated eight events across Downing Street and Whitehall. PA PA

No 10 said it will publish the full Gray report “as soon as possible” after she hands it over.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “Industrial scale rule breaking has taken place at the heart of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street.

“We must now urgently see the Sue Gray report published in full. It’s time for the Prime Minister to stop hiding.

While the British people sacrificed so much, Boris Johnson’s Downing Street broke the rules at record-breaking scale. Britain deserves better.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is yet to receive the same assurance as Boris and Carrie Johnson that he faces no further action, Downing Street said.

The Met’s acting deputy commissioner Helen Ball said it was possible people will receive fines in the next 48 hours.

And she said 28 people had received between two and five fines.

“We have no objections at all to Sue Gray publishing her report and she will make her decisions now as to the next steps she wants to take, I’m sure,” she added.

The total number of individuals to have received fines was unclear, but the Met said 73 fines were issued to women and 53 to men.

One of the dates in which fines were issued for was 13 November 2020, a date in which police investigated two events, including one in the Prime Minister’s Downing Street flat.

But the Met has not clarified whether a fine was issued over the flat gathering, or whether fines on that day related to the leaving do for Lee Cain, who was exiting as No 10’s director of communications.

At the Met’s last update on 12 May the force had made referrals for more than 100 FPNs to the Acro Criminal Records Office.

Scotland Yard declined to identify anyone involved in the investigation but disclosed that it cost around £460,000.

A team of 12 detectives examined 345 documents, including emails, door logs, diary entries, witness statements and 204 questionnaires.

They also examined 510 photographs and CCTV images.

There were no interviews under caution, with officers instead relying on answers to questionnaires.

Six separate types of offending were identified, including breaching rules for holding an indoor gathering of multiple people, including when London was under Tier 4 restrictions.

Ball added: “There is no doubt that the pandemic impacted all of us in so many ways and strong feelings and opinions have been expressed on this particular issue.

“Our investigation was thorough and impartial and was completed as quickly as we could, given the amount of information that needed to be reviewed and the importance of ensuring that we had strong evidence for each FPN referral.

“This investigation is now complete.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 7 comments
Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jay
    Favourite Jay
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 8:19 PM

    29 going on 49. You are only young once pal.

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P. J.
    Favourite P. J.
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 10:36 PM

    @Jay:
    That’s the only type who would keep a money diary!!
    Have you noticed how many accountants and money managers come up?

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Bowling
    Favourite George Bowling
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 8:57 PM

    Maybe if the journal offered a free bet to write one of these diaries we’d all finally get the account of the young life of the hard drinking tearaway whose rent this week is entirely dependent on the 3.30 at Kempton that we all secretly hope to read whenever we open one of these articles.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P. J.
    Favourite P. J.
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 10:33 PM

    @George Bowling:
    Haha, it would have to be a lot more than one free bet to get someone like that to keep an accurate money diary

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laney Sinc
    Favourite Laney Sinc
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 8:06 PM

    Youth is wasted on the young.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lance Taylor
    Favourite Lance Taylor
    Report
    Apr 14th 2025, 5:23 AM

    @Laney Sinc: he is a very rich one and saving a pretty penny

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trish
    Favourite Trish
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 9:23 PM

    Well done. I think you’re doing great.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 9:51 PM

    Woke up, got out of bed, dragged the comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and drank a cup and looking up I noticed I was late.
    Found my coat and grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat.
    Found my way upstairs and had a smoke and somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Meaney
    Favourite Thomas Meaney
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 8:50 PM

    I can only assume the engineer is either Elec, Mech or similar. His remuneration shows the exploitation large companies get away with. You can be guaranteed they are charging the client double if not more for his role. Of course I’m guessing but this would be typical of construction companies. After all the years studying being an engineer is no longer seen as it was once before.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan The Man
    Favourite Dan The Man
    Report
    Apr 13th 2025, 9:12 PM

    @Thomas Meaney: He could grow a pair and go work for himself and double his salary immediately minimum.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominic Leleu
    Favourite Dominic Leleu
    Report
    Apr 14th 2025, 4:47 AM

    no kids, carreer oriented and no life

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan The Man
    Favourite Dan The Man
    Report
    Apr 14th 2025, 6:05 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: People don’t seem to realise you pay for selfish choices at the end in old age when loneliness and isolation kick in.

    12
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds