UK's Boris Johnson 'not questioned about two lockdown events'

Police accused of not investigating all parties PM attended during national pandemic lockdown

Departing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not sent questionnaires about two lockdown-breaking gatherings at Downing Street for which other attendees were fined, a campaign group has said.

Mr Johnson was not questioned by the Metropolitan Police over his involvement in the events, despite special investigator Sue Gray finding that he attended both, the Good Law Project said.

He received received a fixed-penalty notice over a birthday party he attended in the Cabinet Room in June 2020, but no other action over gatherings covered by the police Operation Hillman inquiry into events at Downing Street and Whitehall.

But senior civil servant Ms Gray found the prime minister gave a toast for departing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020, days after ordering England’s second national lockdown.

Images published in her report showed Mr Johnson raising a glass while surrounded by colleagues and bottles of wine.

He also gave a speech at an alcohol-fuelled leaving party for two Downing Street officials on December 17, 2020, with about 20 people in attendance, Ms Gray said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reads the report by senior civil servant Sue Gray, at his Downing Street office. Photo: Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

Photographers surround No 10 Downing Street as Mr Johnson departs for the Prime Minister's Questions session in the House of Commons, on Wednesday morning. Getty Images

The long-awaited report into the Partygate scandal has blamed Mr Johnson and senior officials for failures of leadership at the heart of the British government. EPA

June 19, 2020: A gathering in the Cabinet Room at No 10 Downing Street, on the prime minister's birthday. Photo: Cabinet Office

June 19, 2020: The prime minister during the gathering, which was held while lockdown rules were in force across the UK. Photo: Cabinet Office

November 13, 2020: A gathering at No 10 Downing Street, on the departure of a special adviser. Photo: Cabinet Office

Mr Johnson apologises to MPs in the House of Commons in London, in April, having been fined after a police probe for attending a party during coronavirus lockdowns imposed by his own government. AFP

The prime minister was no more than 30 seconds into his speech when the first shout of 'resign' was heard from the opposition benches, followed by 'you’re an embarrassment' and 'just go'. Reuters

'I take this opportunity on the first available sitting day to repeat my wholehearted apology to the House,' he said, admitting that 'people had a right to expect better of their prime minister'. AFP

The prime minister, pictured with a birthday cake baked for him by school staff at Bovingdon Primary Academy in Hemel Hempstead, said it ‘didn't occur’ to him that a gathering on June 19, 2020, to mark his 56th birthday broke coronavirus rules. AFP

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, left, was also fined for attending lockdown parties held in and around Downing Street. AFP

Mr Johnson is the first sitting prime minister to be censured for breaking the law, sparking calls from all sides of Parliament, including some in his own party, to step down. Reuters

A lone protester demonstrates outside No 10 Downing Street in London. EPA

Before the war broke out in Ukraine, Mr Johnson appeared vulnerable to the partygate controversy. He has been praised for his response to the conflict, which may offer him some protection from critics, and he visited Kyiv last weekend in what he called a show of support for the country. AFP

Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie applaud for key health workers outside No 10 Downing Street in May 2020. Getty Images

The prime minister makes a statement in the House of Commons in January, on Ms Gray's report regarding the Downing Street parties during lockdown. Reuters

A journalist highlights sections of the report by civil servant Sue Gray into parties held at Downing Street. AFP

Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at six of at least 12 events being investigated. One occurred on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, at which Queen Elizabeth II had to grieve away from other mourners because of social distancing protocols. Getty Images

The Good Law Project criticised police for continuing “to fail to provide any explanation of how they cleared the prime minister”.

The force issued 126 fines to 83 people at events in Downing Street and Whitehall, including others at the November 13 and December 17 gatherings.

“We don’t think the Met’s response is consistent with their legal duty of candour," the Good Law Project said.

"And we certainly don’t think it’s consistent with what the Met has elsewhere conceded is their public duty to maintain public confidence in policing.

“The public has a right to know what really went on inside the Partygate investigation. The Met’s actions have raised grave concerns about the deferential way in which they are policing those in power”.

The group vowed to proceed with a judicial review.

“The Op Hillman investigation has concluded and the MPS will not comment on investigative steps taken in the course of that investigation," Scotland Yard said.

“We can confirm that the MPS has filed submissions in response to an application filed at the High Court seeking a judicial review of decision-making pertaining to the Op Hillman investigation."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the force to explain its decisions over Partygate.

The Met has also been asked to consider a Liberal Democrat complaint about its handling of the inquiry after the pictures emerged of Mr Johnson at the November 13 event for which he was not fined.