The acting head of the Metropolitan Police has been asked by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to explain the force’s decisions across the partygate after photos surfaced of Boris Johnson drinking at a rally for which he was not fined.
Khan wrote to Sir Stephen House on Tuesday to seek answers about Met’s decisions in individual cases in the Downing Street inquiry.
He warned that confidence in Scotland Yard was eroded by a “lack of clarity” about the way decisions were made during the investigation of parties that violated coronavirus laws.
Johnson received a notice of a fixed fine (FPN) over a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020, but was told he would not face further action in relation to other gatherings covered by the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Hillman investigation .
These included the gathering on November 13, 2020 to mark the departure of former spin doctor Lee Cain from No. 10, an event where images obtained by ITV apparently showed Mr. Johnson lifting a bowl and drinking wine.
The Met has issued 126 FPNs to 83 people involved in a series of events in Downing Street and Whitehall, including November 13, 2020.
A spokeswoman for Mr Khan said: “Sadiq has today written to the acting Commissioner for the Met to seek a detailed explanation of the factors taken into account by the investigating officers when deciding whether to intervene. in individual cases in Downing.Investigation of street parties.
“He has asked them to take steps to reassure Londoners as well by giving this explanation directly to them because he is concerned that Londoners’ confidence in the police will be further eroded by this lack of clarity.”
Khan had made it clear he would not interfere in operational decisions, but Met has confirmed that Operation Hillman, which looked at the lockdown-busting events at No. 10 and Whitehall, is complete.
Meanwhile, the Met has been asked to consider a Liberal Democrat complaint over its handling of the partygate inquiry.
Deputy Chief Daisy Cooper had called on the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate, but the complaint has been referred to the Met.
The IOPC told her that the Met should decide whether to file the complaint formally, with a response from the Directorate of Professional Standards expected within 15 working days.
