British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not sent questionnaires about two lockdown-breaking gatherings at Downing Street for which other attendees were fined, a campaign group has said.
Mr Johnson was not questioned by the Metropolitan Police over his involvement in the events, despite special investigator Sue Gray finding that he attended both, the Good Law Project said.
He received received a fixed-penalty notice over a birthday party he attended in the Cabinet Room in June 2020, but no other action over gatherings covered by the police Operation Hillman inquiry into events at Downing Street and Whitehall.
But senior civil servant Ms Gray found the prime minister gave a toast for departing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020, days after ordering England’s second national lockdown.
Images published in her report showed Mr Johnson raising a glass while surrounded by colleagues and bottles of wine.
He also gave a speech at an alcohol-fuelled leaving party for two Downing Street officials on December 17, 2020, with about 20 people in attendance, Ms Gray said.
The Good Law Project criticised police for continuing “to fail to provide any explanation of how they cleared the prime minister”.
The force issued 126 fines to 83 people at events in Downing Street and Whitehall, including others at the November 13 and December 17 gatherings.
“We don’t think the Met’s response is consistent with their legal duty of candour," the Good Law Project said.
"And we certainly don’t think it’s consistent with what the Met has elsewhere conceded is their public duty to maintain public confidence in policing.
“The public has a right to know what really went on inside the Partygate investigation. The Met’s actions have raised grave concerns about the deferential way in which they are policing those in power”.
The group vowed to proceed with a judicial review.
“The Op Hillman investigation has concluded and the MPS will not comment on investigative steps taken in the course of that investigation," Scotland Yard said.
“We can confirm that the MPS has filed submissions in response to an application filed at the High Court seeking a judicial review of decision-making pertaining to the Op Hillman investigation."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the force to explain its decisions over Partygate.
The Met has also been asked to consider a Liberal Democrat complaint about its handling of the inquiry after the pictures emerged of Mr Johnson at the November 13 event for which he was not fined.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
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Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Results
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10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
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
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
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Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
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