Will ‘Partygate’ come back to bite Boris Johnson?

The war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis have since pushed the issue off the front pages. But some feel that news of the fines could put Johnson back in danger.

“Partygate is back in the headlines” because of the fines, said HuffPost political editor Kevin Schofield, bringing the scandal “right back into the public eye – and also to Boris Johnson’s front door”.

Although it “has fallen down the list of voters’ priorities” due to the cost of living crisis, “it hasn’t gone away entirely”, he added. And if the prime minister himself is found to have broken the law, “public anger will return and could well be enough to sweep Johnson from office”.

Johnson was among 100 people who were sent formal legal questionnaires relating to the investigation. But the Press Association has reported that he is not expected to be among the initial wave of fines.

A Tory MP told HuffPost that Johnson’s future comes down to whether he is given a fixed penalty notice. “If he doesn’t get fined, he’s got away with it,” they said. “But if he does, then all bets are off.”

According to ITV political editor Robert Peston, the prime minister looks increasingly likely to be hit with a financial penalty.

Peston said that he understands Johnson will not be interviewed by the Met Police, but said this “paradoxically means he is more likely to be fined” because “the Met are not interviewing those who received questionnaires and are in the frame to be fined”.

But other Conservatives feel Johnson is safe, with Conservative Home reporting that his stock has increased with party members during the war in Ukraine.

Jacob Rees-Mogg described the issue as “fluff” during an appearance on LBC, adding: “In the context of what is going on, not just with Ukraine but with the cost of living crisis, this is not the most important issue in the world.”

Simon Hart, the Welsh secretary, also told Sky News that most of his constituents “want an apology, but they don’t want a resignation”.

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/uk-news/956330/will-partygate-come-back-to-bite-boris-johnson