The Metropolitan Police have announced that they will not issue any further “Partygate” fines before the 5 May local elections.
A Met spokesman said this afternoon: “Whilst the investigation will continue during the pre-election period due to the restrictions around communicating before the May local elections, we will not provide further updates until after 5 May.”
It has been reported that senior officers are anxious to ensure that the investigation does not influence the elections.
Last week a No 10 spokesperson confirmed that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were fined over the PM’s 2020 birthday gathering, stating: “on 19th June 2020 at the Cabinet Room 10 Downing Street between 1400 and 1500 you participated in a gathering of two or more people indoors in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street”.
Scotland Yard has so far issued 50 fines in relation to gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall during lockdown restrictions.
Over 17,700 people have been fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaching Covid laws during the pandemic, including 113 fines for holding a gathering of over 30 people.
