Boris Johnson reportedly bracing for more partygate fines
On Tuesday, Mr. Johnson became the first ever sitting PM to be fined for breaking the law
Last updated 29th May 2022
Boris Johnson was braced to potentially receive more fines for breaches of coronavirus laws after a justice minister resigned over "repeated rule-breaking" in Downing Street.
Conservative peer David Wolfson said he had "no option" other than to quit because he scale and nature of the events determined by police to be breaches so far are "inconsistent with the rule of law".
Meanwhile, multiple newspapers are suggesting the Prime Minister could receive further fixed penalty notices for gatherings in and around Number 10.
Downing Street sources said they were awaiting the outcome of the ongoing Scotland Yard inquiry after Mr Johnson conceded more fines could follow, having reportedly attended six of the 12 events under investigation.
Two Conservative MPs say Boris Johnson should go
The fallout after Mr. Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak admitted paying fines this week continued with further calls for both to quit.
Craig Whittaker, the Conservative MP for Calder Valley, said the Prime Minister's position was untenable after he was found to have broken the rules he set.
He told constituents during a Facebook Q&A session that in his opinion "both he and the chancellor should resign because you can't set the laws and then break them."
But Mr Whittaker said he would not be submitting a letter to the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, saying he expects the Prime Minister would win the vote which he argued would distract the Ukraine and cost-of-living crises.
Earlier, Derbyshire MP Nigel Mills became the first Tory backbencher to publicly call for Mr Johnson to fall on his sword since the fines landed.
The MP for Amber Valley said Mr Johnson's position was untenable: "Yeah, I think for a Prime Minister in office to be given a fine and accept it and pay it for breaking the laws that he introduced... is just an impossible position."
Multiple Tory MPs and Cabinet ministers have expressed their backing for the Prime Minister, pointing to his support for Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion.
One who was publicly quiet over the scandal was Home Secretary Priti Patel, but a Home Office source said Mr Johnson has her "full support".
It was argued it was difficult for Home Office ministers to comment on ongoing police investigations.
Speaking to broadcasters at his country residence, Chequers, on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said it "did not occur" to him at the time that the party for which he was fined might be breaching Covid rules.
Mr Sunak offered an "unreserved apology", saying he understood that "for figures in public office, the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence".
A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson said: "Whilst she believed that she was acting in accordance with the rules at the time, Mrs Johnson accepts the Metropolitan Police's findings and apologises unreservedly."