police issue 20 fines for breaches of anti-Covid rules at parties in Downing Street during lockdowns

The first “Partygate” sanctions fall: the London police announced, on Tuesday March 29, twenty fines for breaches of anti-Covid rules during parties organized in British power circles. This scandal plunged into an unprecedented crisis Boris Johnson, who had come to power triumphantly in July 2019 and whose popularity was long considered stainless.

A time considered to be on an ejection seat in January in the face of defections in his majority, the conservative leader seems to have overcome the crisis, in particular by touting his leading role in the sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. But the conclusions of the police, who therefore consider that offenses have indeed taken place, could relaunch the case, especially if it were revealed that Boris Johnson is directly targeted by a fine.

Scotland Yard investigated a dozen gatherings in 2020 and 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is believed to have attended some of them. The revelations of these sometimes festive events in places of power during the pandemic, when the British were asked to drastically reduce their social interactions to fight against the spread of Covid-19 have shaken the power.

Boris Johnson, whose popularity fell sharply after this scandal, had made his mea culpa before the deputies but ruled out any resignation, relying on the conclusions of the police investigation. The police have not yet completed their investigation into this case and have promised to put “everything” to make it progress “quickly”. Further fines could follow if there is sufficient evidence of violations.