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Police to investigate Downing Street lockdown parties Police to investigate Downing Street lockdown parties
(about 1 hour later)
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Watch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown partiesWatch Dame Cressida Dick announce the Met Police's investigation into No 10 lockdown parties
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into parties held in No 10 during the coronavirus pandemic.The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into parties held in No 10 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said they were looking into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations" in Downing Street and Whitehall since 2020.Commissioner Cressida Dick said they were looking into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations" in Downing Street and Whitehall since 2020.
She said the investigation was launched as a "result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team", led by civil servant Sue Gray. Boris Johnson told the Commons he welcomed the investigation as it would "give the public the clarity it needs" over the allegations.
The BBC understands her report won't be published while police investigate. His spokesman also said the PM did not believe he had broken the law.
Dame Cressida said the investigation was launched after the Cabinet Office inquiry team, led by civil servant Sue Gray, passed information to the force.
Ms Gray's report into lockdown parties across government had been expected to be published this week.
But the PM's spokesman confirmed parts of that inquiry would now not be published until after the police investigation is completed, though other parts could still be made public.
Dame Cressida would not say which parties were being investigated by the force, and while breaches of regulations can result in fixed penalty notices, the police inquiry did not mean they would be issued "in every instance and to every person involved".Dame Cressida would not say which parties were being investigated by the force, and while breaches of regulations can result in fixed penalty notices, the police inquiry did not mean they would be issued "in every instance and to every person involved".
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner has renewed calls for Boris Johnson to resign in light of the inquiry, calling him a "national distraction".
She will ask the government an urgent question in the Commons about the police investigation at 12:30 GMT.
But Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg told reporters the PM's leadership had been "brilliant", and the government had done "an amazing job" throughout the pandemic.
The news comes after fresh allegations of a birthday party being held for the prime minister in June 2020.
Birthday celebration for PM sparks new party rowBirthday celebration for PM sparks new party row
Analysis: Birthday claims add to PM's political baggageAnalysis: Birthday claims add to PM's political baggage
Sue Gray report: What exactly is she looking at?Sue Gray report: What exactly is she looking at?
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner renewed calls for Mr Johnson to resign in light of the inquiry, calling him a "national distraction".
Asking an urgent question in the Commons, she said "potential criminality has been found in Downing Street", and that the need for a police investigation into No 10 parties was "a truly damning reflection on our nation's very highest office".
But Paymaster General Michael Ellis called for MPs to "let the investigation run its course and not pre-empt its conclusions".
Mr Johnson - who was in the Commons to deliver a statement on the situation in Ukraine - said: "I welcome the Met's decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters.
"But I want to reassure the House and the whole country that I and the government are focused 100% on dealing with the people's priorities, including the UK's leading role in protecting freedom around the world."
The news comes after fresh allegations of a birthday party being held for the prime minister in June 2020.
Downing Street has admitted that staff gathered inside No 10 to celebrate Mr Johnson's birthday when the first Covid lockdown was still in place.Downing Street has admitted that staff gathered inside No 10 to celebrate Mr Johnson's birthday when the first Covid lockdown was still in place.
But ministers have disputed the number of people attending, and called for "patience" while Ms Gray's inquiry is carried out to establish the facts.But ministers have disputed the number of people attending, and called for "patience" while Ms Gray's inquiry is carried out to establish the facts.
'Deep concern''Deep concern'
Dame Cressida said on Tuesday that she understood the "deep public concern" about the allegations of parties inside No 10, along with the "huge sacrifices" the public had made during the pandemic.Dame Cressida said on Tuesday that she understood the "deep public concern" about the allegations of parties inside No 10, along with the "huge sacrifices" the public had made during the pandemic.
And she said it would "not normally be a proportionate use of time" for the force to investigate rule breaches as far back as two years, but police would look at allegations that "appeared to be the most serious and flagrant breach" of regulations.And she said it would "not normally be a proportionate use of time" for the force to investigate rule breaches as far back as two years, but police would look at allegations that "appeared to be the most serious and flagrant breach" of regulations.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick - pictured here with Boris Johnson in 2019 - confirmed the force would look into "potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations".
She outlined the guidelines on when allegations of past breaches would be investigated, saying the factors the police considered were: Whether there was evidence that those involved "knew, or ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence", where not investigating "would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law", and "where there was little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence".She outlined the guidelines on when allegations of past breaches would be investigated, saying the factors the police considered were: Whether there was evidence that those involved "knew, or ought to have known that what they were doing was an offence", where not investigating "would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law", and "where there was little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence".
Dame Cressida said while the force would not give "a running commentary" on the case, they would provide updates at "significant points".Dame Cressida said while the force would not give "a running commentary" on the case, they would provide updates at "significant points".
The first thing is to have a sense of proportion.
When you hear the words, "Met Police, investigation, criminal, Downing Street", that sounds incredibly dramatic.
This is a big development in this story, but we are talking about the potential issuing of fixed penalty notices - fines - not about big criminal trials or people going to prison.
So it is important to keep that sense of perspective.
There are also lots of things we don't know about this police investigation.
We don't know how many of these high-profile parties are now being investigated and crucially we don't know if they were parties attended by the prime minister.
We also don't know if the prime minister is in the frame for being interviewed by the police.
So, lots of unanswered questions, but it means this row is going to rumble on at a much higher volume for a lot longer.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the investigation, saying: "The public rightly expect the police to uphold the law without fear or favour, no matter who that involves, and I have been clear that members of the public must be able to expect the highest standards from everyone, including the prime minister and those around him.London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the investigation, saying: "The public rightly expect the police to uphold the law without fear or favour, no matter who that involves, and I have been clear that members of the public must be able to expect the highest standards from everyone, including the prime minister and those around him.
"No one is above the law. There cannot be one rule for the government and another for everyone else.""No one is above the law. There cannot be one rule for the government and another for everyone else."
His Labour colleague, Ms Rayner, also welcomed the inquiry, but added: "With Boris Johnson's Downing Street now under police investigation, how on earth can he think he can stay on as prime minister? And the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, told the BBC the government was in "meltdown", adding: "We got here because the prime minister can't tell the truth, he's lied continually, he's been dishonest to Parliament and to the British people.
"Boris Johnson is a national distraction. Conservative MPs should stop propping him up and he should finally do the decent thing and resign." "He has to go, he should resign."
But Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg told reporters the PM's leadership had been "brilliant", and the government had done "an amazing job" throughout the pandemic.
And Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh told MPs: "When Europe stands on the brink of war and there is a cost of living crisis, can we please have a sense of proportion over the prime minister being given a piece of cake in his own office by his own staff?"
'Nightmare gets worse'
Westminster has been eagerly awaiting the report from senior civil servant Ms Gray into the list of alleged parties that took place over different lockdowns throughout the pandemic, including the birthday party.Westminster has been eagerly awaiting the report from senior civil servant Ms Gray into the list of alleged parties that took place over different lockdowns throughout the pandemic, including the birthday party.
However, while the Cabinet Office has said her inquiry will continue at the same time as the Met's, the BBC understands Ms Gray's final report - which had been expected to be published this week - will now be delayed while the police carry out their own work. However, while the Cabinet Office has said her inquiry will continue at the same time as the Met's, not all of her findings will be able to be published until the police have finished their inquiry.
And it is not yet clear how long the force's investigation will take.And it is not yet clear how long the force's investigation will take.
Some Tory MPs have already openly called for Mr Johnson to go, but others have said they are waiting to read Ms Gray's conclusions before deciding on the PM's future.Some Tory MPs have already openly called for Mr Johnson to go, but others have said they are waiting to read Ms Gray's conclusions before deciding on the PM's future.
A total of 54 MPs must write to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, declaring no confidence in the PM, to trigger a leadership contest.A total of 54 MPs must write to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, declaring no confidence in the PM, to trigger a leadership contest.
Senior backbench MP David Davis, who called for Mr Johnson to resign during last week's PMQs, said the police investigation meant "this nightmare gets even worse", adding: "We have to be able to get back to dealing with real threats as quickly as possible."Senior backbench MP David Davis, who called for Mr Johnson to resign during last week's PMQs, said the police investigation meant "this nightmare gets even worse", adding: "We have to be able to get back to dealing with real threats as quickly as possible."
Another senior Tory told the BBC the PM "can't stay now" and this latest development "may trigger a few more to put their letters in".Another senior Tory told the BBC the PM "can't stay now" and this latest development "may trigger a few more to put their letters in".
But a former cabinet minister told the BBC he thought the police investigation would delay more letters being written, adding: "Where it depended on what Sue Gray said, it now depends on what the police will say."But a former cabinet minister told the BBC he thought the police investigation would delay more letters being written, adding: "Where it depended on what Sue Gray said, it now depends on what the police will say."
What penalties could be imposed?What penalties could be imposed?
Met police chief Dame Cressida Dick stressed: "The fact that we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved."Met police chief Dame Cressida Dick stressed: "The fact that we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved."
Fixed penalty notices have been the main penalty for Covid-19 rule breaches. Right at the start of the pandemic they were £60 fines, which could be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.Fixed penalty notices have been the main penalty for Covid-19 rule breaches. Right at the start of the pandemic they were £60 fines, which could be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
That was increased to £100 in May 2020 and £200 later that year, both reducing if paid quickly.That was increased to £100 in May 2020 and £200 later that year, both reducing if paid quickly.
And in January 2021 it went up to £800 for people attending gatherings of more than 15 people and £10,000 for those organising them.And in January 2021 it went up to £800 for people attending gatherings of more than 15 people and £10,000 for those organising them.
Fines could be doubled for repeat offences.Fines could be doubled for repeat offences.
It could also get more serious if people refuse to accept fines and opt for a hearing in a magistrates court instead.It could also get more serious if people refuse to accept fines and opt for a hearing in a magistrates court instead.