LONDON — British police are investigating fresh claims of coronavirus lockdown-breaching gatherings in Westminster, within the newest twist within the Partygate scandal.
The Metropolitan Police introduced Tuesday that it’s opening one new investigation — right into a December 8, 2020 “gathering in Parliament” — and re-opening one other, overlaying an “event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.”
The first date is similar as a gathering reportedly attended by senior Conservative MP — and Partygate inquisitor — Bernard Jenkin, in accordance with the Guido Fawkes web site.
The second date matches with a controversial “jingle and mingle” occasion at Conservative HQ. That occasion, at which get together aides had been pictured dancing and laughing at a time social gatherings had been tightly restricted, was the topic of an exposé by the Sunday Mirror.
In June, Boris Johnson — who was fined for his personal COVID-19 rule breaches and lately condemned by the Commons privileges committee for his testimony on Partygate — known as for Jenkin to resign from that committee over the claims.
The Met additionally confirmed Tuesday that it and Thames Valley Police had had checked out fresh materials “referred by the Cabinet Office regarding potential breaches of the Regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers,” however concluded that “they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.”
Johnson had been below additional scrutiny over visits to Chequers, his nation retreat when prime minister, however the Met’s assertion suggests these don’t warrant additional investigation.
