Officials investigated by police about Downing Street blocking violations expressed disappointment after it turned out that Boris Johnson had not yet received a questionnaire for at least one key departure.
Amid growing anger at what an official called Scotland Yard’s “distraction approach” – including various people being sent questionnaires two months apart for the same event – metropolitan police are expected to make a statement soon. after the local elections, with expectations of further Partygate fines.
The prime minister said on Tuesday that he had not contacted Met about leaving the party for his former spin, Dr. Lee Kane, in November 2020. Sources said the Met questionnaires, which could be a precursor to the Notice of Fixed Criminal Liability (FPN) were sent to other people who attended.
Johnson gave a speech and poured drinks at the event to leave Kane on November 13, according to those present, although this was during the blockade of Covid’s home.
Police are also investigating an alleged party that night in the apartment the prime minister shared with his wife, Carrie Johnson. Sources say the event was supposed to celebrate the departure of former Kane and Johnson chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
So far, the Prime Minister has received an FPN for attending a birthday rally at number 10 in June 2020 for what he said was a matter of minutes, demonstrating that police believe it has crossed the threshold for violation of the law.
Scotland Yard’s approach to the Partygate investigation, Operation Hillman, also disappointed lawmakers. “The target made a mistake from the beginning, abdicating responsibility [the senior civil servant] “Sue Gray and then they’re back in the story right as we approach the resolution,” he said.
“Given the seriousness of the potential findings, Met really needs to set a reasonable timetable for completing their investigation.
Senior Downing Street officials, who have already received numerous questionnaires from the Metro, say there is considerable concern as to why Johnson was not investigated for the same events and the way the investigation was conducted.
“It feels like considerable consideration has been given to causing the least political impact – when someone is being investigated for a crime,” said a former official. “How is this allowed to happen?”
Another said it was “disgraceful how the police reveal this, this is a scandal of historical proportions”.
A Whitehall source said the investigation affected others attending rallies, including civil servant Kate Josephs, who resigned from the Sheffield City Council after her party leaving the cabinet in December 2020 was identified as a breach of the blockade.
One complication raised by a Whitehall source is the fact that police investigations begin with evidence gathered by Gray, the civil servant initially tasked with investigating the alleged violations.
She is believed to have gathered some details about the events by talking to a handful of attendees who provided information. Some officers who played relatively minor roles in rallies were now facing police action after helping Gray, while others, whose crimes are likely to be greater, were not contacted by officers.
Asked by Times Radio on Tuesday if he had received a Met questionnaire about leaving the party in November 2020, Johnson said: “I do not comment on these things in general, but the answer is no, not so far or certainly not to my knowledge. All this will become clear at the end of the investigation. “
Johnson was fined – along with Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak – for collecting a birthday cake. However, he did not appear to have been fined for bringing alcohol to the Downing Street Garden in May 2020, for which others were fined.
In January, Johnson admitted to attending an event – held during the first national blockade, when indoor and outdoor social mixing was banned – for about 25 minutes, but said he “implicitly believes it is a business event”. It is said that his chief personal secretary at the time, Martin Reynolds, invited up to 100 people to “socially distant” evening drinks.
Officials involved in the rallies under investigation believe Johnson is likely to receive two more fines – one for leaving Kane and another for the indifferent party that night. However, Johnson is reportedly convinced he will not receive more fines.
Met did not respond to requests for comment.
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