Met Police Begin Issuing Fines For "BYOB" Downing Street Lockdown Party
2 min read
The Metropolitan Police have begun issuing fixed penalty notices for a "BYOB" lockdown party in the Number 10 garden, which Boris Johnson attended.
Downing Street confirmed that as of Friday afternoon, the Prime Minister was not yet among recipients of the fines. Johnson has previously apologised for attending the event for 25 minutes, insisting that he did not know it was a party.
Invites to the gathering, which took place on the 20 May 2020, when social mixing was heavily prohibited, were distributed by the Prime Minister's then Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds.
Over 100 employees were offered the chance to “make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening”.
Reynolds also told staff to “bring your own booze”.
At the time of the party, lockdown rules stipulated only two people from separate households can mix and that inter-household socialising must take place outdoors at a minimum two metre distance.
Guidance for workplaces stated in-person meetings were only permitted to take place if “absolutely necessary”.
In January this year Johnson apologised for attending the event, telling MPs in the Commons he "believed implicitly" that the garden party "was a work event", but "with hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside".
The Prime Minister claimed he only spent 25 minutes at the event "before going back into my office".
To date, Johnson has received one FPN from the Met, for his attendance at a birthday gathering in Downing Street on 19 June 2020.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Johnson's wife Carrie were also present and received fines as well.
Number 10 has confirmed the public will be informed if the Prime Minister is issued with any further FPNs.
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