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London’s Metropolitan police pressure additionally confirmed it was “in receipt of knowledge” handed onto them from the Cupboard Workplace on Might 19 referring to breaches of well being laws throughout the identical time-frame at Downing Road.
British media reported that the Cupboard Workplace allegedly handed over Johnson’s official diary entries, displaying visits by mates to the property throughout the pandemic at a time when there have been strict bans on visits between nonfamily members.
“Info got here to mild throughout the means of getting ready proof for submission to the Covid inquiry,” a Cupboard spokesman stated in an announcement Wednesday. “According to obligations within the civil service code, this materials has been handed to the related authorities and it’s now a matter for them.”
The brand new claims come amid an inquiry into “Partygate,” the title of the scandal that concerned boozy authorities gatherings contained in the prime minister’s workplace and residence of Downing Road at a time when lockdowns and social distancing had been strictly enforced. The scandal was one in every of many who contributed to Johnson’s unraveling as Britain’s chief and led to his resignation final July after a calamitous three years in workplace.
Johnson’s workforce advised the Occasions of London the allegations had been “clearly” a “politically motivated try and manufacture one thing out of nothing.” The brand new allegations may delay the decision within the inquiry over whether or not Johnson knowingly misled parliament, which lawmakers have been investigating for nearly a 12 months. A verdict is anticipated subsequent month.
Whereas being interrogated by members of Parliament throughout the inquiry on the Home of Commons in March, Johnson stated “hand on heart” that he didn’t mislead Parliament in regards to the unlawful authorities gatherings, defending the meetups as “important for work functions.” If Johnson is discovered to have lied he may face suspension and perjury fees.
Whereas Johnson misplaced the arrogance of his get together and resigned, he stays a member of Parliament. Although his political future is unsure at current, he has signaled that he could in the future attempt to return as Britain’s chief.
Johnson is famed for having a loose relationship with the truth and often made the headlines at dwelling and overseas throughout his tenure. When the Partygate scandal first got here to mild, the allegations prompted many in Britain to angrily recall the heartbreaking sacrifices they made throughout the pandemic as they adhered to the identical guidelines that members of the federal government outlined after which defied.
Britain was ravaged by the worldwide well being disaster, with not less than 220,000 lives misplaced to the coronavirus. Johnson and his authorities have confronted widespread criticism over their dealing with of the pandemic, which a public inquiry later decided was “one of the crucial vital public well being failures the UK has ever skilled.”
When Johnson was fined for his function in Partygate in April 2021, he turned the primary sitting prime minister in Britain’s historical past to have been discovered to have damaged the legislation.
Covid-19 Bereaved Households for Justice, a gaggle of those that misplaced family members to the virus, slammed Johnson on social media following allegations of contemporary rule-breaking.
“His legacy is one in every of mendacity, full contempt for the unusual individuals he was supposed to guard, and above all presiding over the deaths of practically 200k individuals,” the group wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Karla Adam and William Sales space contributed to this report.
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