More than 50 fines issued over Downing Street lockdown parties

More than 50 fixed penalty notices (FPN) have been issued over allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.

The Metropolitan Police also hinted at the possibility of more FPNs to come.

This follows the 20 handed to Downing Street staff at the end of March, including the government’s former ethics chief Helen MacNamara who brought a karaoke machine to one of the parties.

A bereaved families campaign group said it is “indisputable” that widespread rule breaking occurred.

Matt Fowler, co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: “Whilst bereaved families were unable to be at their loved ones’ sides in their last moments, or stood at their funerals alone, the people responsible for protecting us in Downing St were partying and rule breaking en masse.

“It’s a reality that is unbelievably painful for bereaved families like mine to face as we try and move forward with our lives.

“It’s plain as day that there was a culture of boozing and rule breaching at the highest level of Government, whilst the British public was making unimaginable sacrifices to protect their loved ones and communities.”

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has denounced “widespread criminality at the heart of Downing Street”.

She said: “Crime is soaring, victims are being let down, and police officers are disappearing from our streets – now we see widespread criminality at the heart of Downing Street.

“This is just the latest example of a distracted out-of-touch Government, guilty of breaking the law, never mind enforcing it.

“Britain deserves better than this Government.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “These fines expose the shocking scale of the criminality in Boris Johnson’s Number 10.

“The police have now completely shredded Johnson’s claims that no laws were broken. He cannot be trusted and cannot continue as Prime Minister.

“No other leader in any other organisation would be allowed to continue after law-breaking on this scale.

“If Boris Johnson won’t resign, Conservative MPs must show him the door.”

The Metropolitan Police said the investigation is ongoing and they are continuing to assess a large amount of evidence.