Last week, Johnson was fined for a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Residence on the occasion of his birthday on June 19, 2020.
Thus, he became the first prime minister in British history to break the law. He was even more severely criticized for breaking his own rules.
Addressing lawmakers for the first time last week as parliament was on Easter recess, Johnson reiterated that he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
“It was my fault and I apologize without giving any reason,” said Johnson, adding that “the British people have a right to expect a better performance from their prime minister.”
Johnson stated that he will fulfill his duty to defend Ukraine against Russia.
On Thursday, lawmakers will hold a vote on whether the Prime Minister has misled parliament. In his statements in December, Johnson said that he had not violated the coronavirus rules in any way.
Knowingly misleading the parliament is against the rules that the prime minister and ministers must follow.
Accordingly, the minister or prime minister who violates this rule must resign, and opposition lawmakers are calling for Johnson to resign.
Johnson answered ‘No’ to questions about whether he misled the parliament by ticketing.
Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labor Party, stated that all parties support the UK’s Ukraine policy, and that any Opposition Party MP who will replace Johnson can implement these policies.
In his speech in the parliament, Starmer reminded people who could not be with their loved ones on their deathbed due to the coronavirus rules.
He told Conservative Party lawmakers that they should dismiss their leaders.
The Finance Minister was also fined.
It was reflected in the British press in December for the first time that gatherings against the coronavirus restrictions were held at the Prime Minister’s Residence.
In January, it was revealed that Johnson was also present in some of these gatherings. This led to a public scandal called ‘partygate’.
At that time, Johnson’s own party, the Conservative Party, spoke out against this situation, but this time the reaction was limited due to the Ukraine war.
In addition, the police fined the Minister of Finance, Rishi Sunak, for the same meeting.
Johnson and Sunak announced that they would not resign.
Police investigations into the gatherings continue; some expect Johnson to be fined more.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Johnson had asked senior undersecretary Sue Gray to conduct a separate investigation.
Sue Gray will release her full report after the London Police Department’s investigation is complete.
Among those fined by the police for attending the birthday party organized for Boris Johnson at the Prime Minister’s Residence is Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie Johnson. Carrie Johnson also made a public apology.
Secretary of State for Justice Simon Wolfson resigned from his post because of partygate.
So far, 50 people have been fined by the police due to partygate.