London’s police chief has announced a criminal investigation into allegations of parties in Downing Street during lockdown.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday vowed to cooperate with police in any formal probe into the 'partygate' scandal which has deepened the threat to his position. The latest allegation concerned an event for Mr Johnson's 56th birthday in June 2020 when the UK was still facing restrictions for indoor gatherings.
Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police’s Commissioner, said it would “not normally be a proportionate use of officers’ time” to investigate retrospective claims of lockdown-breaking parties, but exceptions could be made.
The investigation was opened as a result of information from the Gray inquiry and “my officers’ own assessment”, Dame Cressida said.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray is also investigating the string of Downing Street gatherings.
The announcement will plunge Mr Johnson into deeper jeopardy as he awaits the publication of Ms Gray’s report. She is investigating allegations that a string of parties were held at Downing Street while the rest of the country abided by Covid-19 rules. The claims have prompted the worst crisis of his premiership and led to calls for him to resign.
He has faced public outrage and charges of hypocrisy over the alleged celebrations, given that millions of people abided by the rules he set.
Many highlighted how they missed significant birthdays themselves due to social distancing, and were unable to comfort sick and dying loved ones struck down with Covid.
A tweet from Mr Johnson re-emerged from March 2020 in which he told a 7-year-old girl she was setting a "great example to us all" after she cancelled her birthday party.
The Met has faced widespread criticism for refusing to investigate a stream of alleged lockdown-breaking gathering reports surrounding Downing Street. In December the force ruled out an investigation into an alleged Christmas party in No 10, citing a lack of evidence.
If questioned, Mr Johnson would be only the second sitting British prime minister to be questioned as part of a formal police probe. Labour prime minister Tony Blair was interviewed as a witness in a police investigation into “cash for honours” allegations. In 2007, officers concluded that no charges would be brought.
“As a result, firstly, of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team and, secondly, my officers' own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations,” Dame Cressida told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee on Tuesday.
“My officers have assessed several other events that appear to have taken place at Downing Street and Whitehall. On the available information, these other events are assessed as not reaching the threshold for criminal investigation.”
She said a formal investigation “does not mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved”.
The force wrote to the Cabinet Office on Tuesday morning requesting that staff hand over “all relevant information gathered from its inquiry in relation to events on the dates in question to support the police investigations”.
The police chief said the force would not provide regular updates on its investigation, only at “significant points” in the probe.
“I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters,” Boris Johnson told MPs after the announcement.
He is willing to be interviewed by police if required, Downing Street has said.
“Anyone asked to will co-operate fully, as you would expect,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
Asked if Mr Johnson thinks he has not broken the law, his spokesman replied: “I need to be cautious about what I say but I think that’s fair to say that he does not.”
Ms Gray will pause investigating or publishing any party allegations that the police are looking into but is free to publish other matters in her inquiry, No 10 suggested.
“As the terms of reference make clear, they won’t publish anything that relates to the work of the police, there are a number of events and allegations that they have looked into that the police said don’t reach their threshold, which they are able to continue looking into,” the spokesman said. “And it is my understanding that they will be able to publish detail about those events rather than ones which the police might be taking forward.”
The prime minister did not discuss the police investigation with his Cabinet despite having been made aware it would go ahead before their meeting, No 10 has said. He was notified of the criminal probe shortly before the Met Police made the public announcement on Tuesday morning.
“That was confirmed by the police while Cabinet was taking place so he didn’t reference it specifically, he alluded to that at the end of Cabinet but beyond that, no,” the spokesman said. “He made those comments about ensuring the government is not deterred from getting on with the job, he didn’t go into detail about the Met given that Cressida Dick made her comments while Cabinet was taking place.”
Ms Gray’s investigation is understood to include the latest party claims to hit Downing Street. On Monday, ITV News reported that a birthday party was held in Downing Street to mark Mr Johnson turning 56 on June 19, 2020. Up to 30 people are said to have attended the event during a time when indoor mixing of households was banned. A maximum of six people from different households were permitted to mix outdoors.
The latest party claim prompted new calls, including from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, for him to step down.
The commissioner said the public should understand that the Met would not normally investigate allegations of lockdown parties retrospectively.
She said the force needed to channel its resources towards tackling violent crime and terrorism instead of investigating “as well, of course, as doing our bit during the pandemic”.
Dame Cressida said a probe would be appropriate if the following three thresholds were met.
· If there was evidence that those involved in the gatherings knew or ought to have known that they were breaking rules
· Where not investigating would “significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law”
· Where there was “little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence”.
Downing Street sought to play down the latest accusation of a lockdown-breaching party in Downing Street, saying staff spent only 10 minutes wishing the prime minister a happy birthday.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is among those who are said to have attended, Sky News reported.
Martin Reynolds, the prime minister’s principal private secretary and a former ambassador to Libya, is also believed to have been present.
“A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet room after a meeting to wish the prime minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than 10 minutes,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
ITV News also reported that later that evening, family friends were hosted upstairs to further celebrate the prime minister’s birthday in his official residence.
“This is totally untrue,” No 10 said. “In line with the rules at the time, the prime minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.”
Caroline Pidgeon, a Liberal Democrat member of the Police and Crime Committee, asked Dame Cressida whether photos and video footage of alleged parties would be analysed by officers.
“I don’t imagine any of the parties were silent discos,” Ms Pidgeon said. “We have seen pictures of people gathering in the garden over wine and cheese.
“As already mentioned, police on site probably would have heard drinking and talking in the garden, but also Downing Street and the area has so many CCTV cameras on 24 hours a day.
“Will those form part of your investigation that you’ve announced this morning?”
Dame Cressida said investigating officers “will, of course, be going where the evidence takes us” and said she did not expect any difficulty in “obtaining the evidence that it is both necessary, proportionate and appropriate for us to obtain in order to get to the right conclusions”.
Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said the prime minister had become a “national distraction” due to the “partygate” saga in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Millions of people are struggling to pay the bills but Boris Johnson and his government are too wrapped up in scandal to do anything about it,” she said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
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16 years, 30 days old
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16 years, 68 days old
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Results
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The five pillars of Islam
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
