Met urged to investigate Boris Johnson for ‘potentially unlawful behaviour’ over Downing Street party as Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey calls for ‘urgent action’
- Scotland Yard under growing pressure to investigate the Prime Minister over ‘potentially unlawful behaviour’
- Cressida Dick faced demands for Johnson to be interviewed under caution
- Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to her to urge an investigation to be launched
Scotland Yard was under growing pressure last night to investigate the Prime Minister for ‘potentially unlawful behaviour’ after he admitted attending the party at No 10 during lockdown.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick faced demands for Boris Johnson to be interviewed under caution as part of a full criminal investigation into the ‘illegal gathering’ on May 20, 2020.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to her, saying: ‘It is vital you take urgent action to investigate potentially unlawful behaviour on the part of all those who attended the party, including Boris Johnson.’
He urged Dame Cressida to ‘reassure the public there isn’t one rule for them and another for Boris Johnson’ by confirming police would probe the ‘illegal gathering’ and interview the Prime Minister under caution.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick (pictured) faced demands for Boris Johnson to be interviewed under caution as part of a full criminal investigation into the ‘illegal gathering’ on May 20, 2020
He suggested any who attended, including Mr Johnson, should ‘be charged and fined in the same way as ordinary members of the public’.
More than 17,700 people were fined by the Met for breaching Covid laws during the pandemic, including 113 for holding a gathering of more than 30, figures show. Sir Ed, the MP for Kingston, said: ‘The police must reassure the public that justice will be done.’
Former shadow attorney general Lord Falconer also said Mr Johnson should be fined or face charges, suggesting a judge would not accept his ‘ridiculous’ explanation about the party being a work event.
‘The Prime Minster acknowledged that he attended an event which was in breach of the law,’ he told Radio 4’s World at One. ‘He broke the law and he admitted it.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to her, saying: ‘It is vital you take urgent action to investigate potentially unlawful behaviour on the part of all those who attended the party, including Boris Johnson’
‘The police, in the light of that admission, should either give him a fixed penalty notice or charge him.’
He added: ‘The public have to have confidence that the law applies to everyone equally.
‘When the Prime Minister admits a breach of these critical laws, it cannot just be swept under the carpet.’
The Metropolitan Police said yesterday its position had not changed, insisting it was a matter for the Cabinet Office to investigate.
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