Former PM Johnson faces fresh police investigations over partygate

Boris Johnson discusses partygate


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Former prime minister Boris Johnson is facing further potential police investigations into the “Partygate” scandal. This comes after a government ministry handed two police forces material about alleged coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown breaches.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were “assessing” new information it has received over the last week related to “potential breaches” of the coronavirus rules in Downing Street between June 2020 and May 2021.

Meanwhile, the Times said Thames Valley Police were also analysing new evidence related to possible rule-breaking at Chequers, the prime minister’s country estate outside of London. Multiple sources told the newspaper that the alleged breaches involved Johnson’s family as well as his friends.

On top of all that, Johnson has sacked his legal team ahead of the hearings next month. Adding insult to injury for the public, taxpayers will still fund his new lawyers. Then, according to the Guardian, the official public inquiry has threatened the Cabinet Office with:

criminal sanctions over its refusal to share Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages and diaries from during the crisis without heavy redactions.

The chair of the inquiry, Lady Heather Hallett, suggested that if the Cabinet Office considered the request to share WhatsApp messages illegal it should to a pursue a judicial review.

Partygate rumbles on

All this is typical of the increasingly chaotic behaviour from ministers and former ministers. After the cronyism of the pandemic, and the revolving door of ministers, the partygate allegations are still rumbling on. The longer they do, the more frustration from the public spills over.

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Lecturer Kit Yates described the “contempt” of Johnson’s behaviour:

Member of Independent SAGE professor Christina Pagel reflected on Johnson’s “shamelessness”:

Professor of accounting Prem Sikka detailed the income streams available for the former prime minister:

Sikka also summed up how much legal aid Johnson will be receiving:

Palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke mourned those who died “apart”:

And ITV presenter Paul Brand brought up the characteristic chaos Johnson brings:

Chaos and more chaos

After everything Johnson oversaw – chaos, chaos, and more chaos – it figures that even more investigations into his behaviour are none incoming. All of this begs the question – was there any point during his time in Downing Street that he wasn’t breaking lockdown rules?

None of this is surprising, either. We can all see these slippery politicians picking and choosing which laws they obey. Johnson’s behaviour smacks of the entitlement that has cushioned his actions his whole life. Whilst it remains to be seen what will come of the inquiry’s findings, it will be genuinely surprising if it has any consequences for the coddled and privileged former prime minister.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

Featured image via YouTube screenshot/BBC News

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    1. Former PM Johnson faces fresh police investigations over party gate.
      **
      Boris time for you to get the HELL -OUT of U.K. Govt job any Govt job now as you are trashing our U.K. parliament with your mess you got yourself into you have only your arrogance way to blame for loss of P.M. job the public know you were lying SIR to us and our elected parties in the H.O. Com in Govt now.
      **
      This new wave of problems coming your way is again of your own making. While we the U.K. people suffered in your policy L-Down rules you broke sir more times than any public person in the U.K.
      **
      Boris you and Hancock you two also still must answer to us public that lost loved one in Care home you Boris & Hancock by way of your unjust policy infected them and their died because of both your action.
      Footnote
      Boris & Hancock
      Tell us British public that lost loved one in Care Home infection by your policy Boris & Hancock why was the Nightingale Hospital NOT use to put infected paten into instead of Old people Care homes after all we U.K. taxpayer paid for them to be use while corvid was rampant in U.K. according to Tory Govt propaganda you all spewed out to us public.

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