Wednesday, October 23

Former U.Okay. chief Boris Johnson faces new police probe over lockdown visits

LONDON — Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was fined for breaking his personal authorities’s pandemic lockdown guidelines, has been reported to police once more over extra potential breaches.

The Times of London stated Tuesday that Johnson was reported by civil servants over alleged visits to Chequers, the prime minister’s official nation retreat, in addition to potential breaches within the chief’s Downing Street residence.

The Metropolitan Police drive and Thames Valley Police stated they have been assessing particulars regarding incidents between June 2020 and May 2021.

The Times stated the potential breaches got here to mild whereas Johnson was making ready his testimony to Britain’s upcoming inquiry into how the nation dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cabinet Office, a authorities division which helps the work of the prime minister, stated that “information came to light during the process of preparing evidence for submission to the COVID inquiry.”

“In line with obligations in the Civil Service Code, this material has been passed to the relevant authorities and it is now a matter for them.”

Johnson’s workplace stated the previous chief maintained that “the events were lawful and were not breaches of any COVID regulations.”

Johnson was amongst scores of individuals fined final yr in reference to the “partygate” scandal over lockdown-breaching authorities events held in 2020 and 2021, when the U.Okay. was below tight restrictions on social mixing.

He resigned as prime minister in July 2022 after a slew of scandals over his ethics and judgment turned many lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party in opposition to him.

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