The political future of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, is at stake.
A report is expected on the alleged parties in his official residence, at number of Downing Street, which would have been carried out during the restrictions due to the pandemic.
In addition, Scotland Yard opened a criminal investigation into the alleged violation of the laws on covid-19, and the prime minister could also be forced to resign his post if he is found to have lied to Parliament.
Boris Johnson’s time in office as the first British minister has been eventful, to say the least.
In just over two years, the UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit was completed ), led the country through the pandemic and faced rebellions and resignations of his most trusted advisers nearby.
However, it is the so-called “partygate“, the latest drama affecting British politics, which has brought the former mayor of London closer than ever to losing power.
But what is he accused of exactly?
What is “partygate”?
According to publications in the media, there were allegedly at least 17 meetings at the Downing Street residence, where the Prime Minister lives and works, or at other government departments during the pandemic.
UK was in dive various degrees of confinement when these parties supposedly took place. Rules for the general public included a ban on indoor gatherings of more than two people, as well as other restrictions for outdoor events.
About 100 people were invited to a socially distanced drinks event in Downing Street Garden in May 1200.
Witnesses told the BBC that Johnson and his then-fiancée, Carrie Symonds, were among the 25 people who attended. The Prime Minister confirmed that he was there for 15 minutes, but “I implicitly believed that it was a work event”.
A happy birthday
According to press reports, the prime minister’s birthday was celebrated a month later with a cake in the Downing Street Cabinet Room.
The residence staff says that the celebration took place for “less than ten minutes”.
When London moved to the strictest level of restrictions in December 2020, several parties allegedly took place, including a call “unauthorized meeting” at Conservative Party headquarters.
More recently, Downing Street staff are said to have held two meetings ones the April 2021, the night before the funeral of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
At the service, the monarch was filmed sitting alone, in accordance with pandemic restrictions at the time. The country was in a state of national mourning, with official flags flying at half-staff.
Johnson did not attend any of the alleged celebrations of the 15 of April.
What has been the reaction?
The prime minister has faced a harsh backlash for the alleged meetings and has been regularly criticized by the opposition leader in Parliament, Labor Keir Starmer.
The first victim of the scandal was the government’s press secretary, Allegra Stratton.
When the reports emerged last December, and after a week of denial by the government, a v was leaked Video to the press in which Stratton was seen rehearsing how to answer journalists’ questions.
He even joked that there was a work meeting with “cheese and wine”. He resigned his post with a sobbing statement the next day.
In the same month, the Conservatives lost a very secure North Shropshire seat to the Liberal Democrats, in a shock election that many have blamed on the controversies surrounding the Johnson government .
Earlier this month, another Conservative MP, Christian Wakeford, announced his defection to the opposition Labor Party, although his first contact with the opposition was prior to partygate.
“In the name of God, go away”
Many MPs, both inside and outside the Conservative Party, have called for the Prime Minister to resign, with a particularly heavy blow coming from former Conservative Brexit Secretary David Davis.
Quoted a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1940, who called for then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to resign after the first military defeats of World War II.
“You have sat there too long for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go away”, he said.
Now all eyes are on Parliament while awaiting the publication of the report of the investigation into the alleged infractions, carried out by Sue Gray.
Gray will discuss the nature and purpose of the meetings, including who attended them “with reference to compliance with the regulations in force at the time”.
The report is expected to provide a factual account from what has occured. This does not necessarily mean that she says whether or not there were breaches of the rule.
What are the police investigating?
Opposition leader Keir Starmer told the BBC earlier this month: “I think he broke the law. I think it’s like admitting he broke the law. And, after all, Downing Street has now apologized to the queen for some of the parties that have taken place”.
The London police, the Metropolitan Police, announced that they had opened a research. It is not known how many events it is investigating.
It has only reported that it is investigating “a series of events that took place in Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to possible violations of covid regulations-19″.
The decision to initiate the investigation was the result of the information provided by the Sue Gray’s investigation team and the “evaluations of the agents themselves”, said Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick.
Under the Coronavirus Law, violations of covid regulations are punishable by fines .
In the summer of 2020, the Metropolitan Police had the power to fine people US$130 for the first violation. Subsequent violations could be doubled up to a maximum of US$4.130.
Censorship, a possibility
For now, Johnson has gone into seclusion, as he often does when faced with accusations of wrongdoing and lies, and has urged his MPs to wait for the report to be released.
He apologized to Queen Elizabeth II for the behavior of her staff, at a time when she had been scrupulously observing pandemic rules by sitting alone at her husband’s funeral.
Several high-ranking members of his own party have called for his dismissal as prime minister and party leader. So if he doesn’t resign voluntarily, they’ll have to consider a vote of no confidence.
For this, at least the 15% of parliamentarians in office (54) they have to write a letter saying that they no longer trust in the prime minister.
Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, survived a motion of no confidence in December 2018, only to resign of his own free will six months later.
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