The lockdown breaches show just how out of touch the prime minister has become. Tory MPs ought to remove him for their party’s – and the country’s – sake
Has Boris Johnson wriggled free of Partygate? The news that the prime minister will not receive any further fines over the scandal suggests he might. But Mr Johnson is not out of danger. The Metropolitan police’s investigation confirms that Downing Street held boozy parties while the rest of the country was under strict Covid lockdown. The prime minister’s attempts to dodge blame in front of MPs revealed his dishonesty.
Next week will bring the publication of the much-awaited report by Sue Gray, a veteran civil servant, into the parties at Downing Street. This will give a fuller picture of the breaches of the criminal law that took place in No 10. When the privileges committee begins its work, Mr Johnson will become the only prime minister to be investigated over claims that he intentionally misled parliament, in relation to this scandal.
