Embarrassment for #BorisJohnson as police u-turn on decision not to investigate party
Boris Johnson has suffered another blow to his authority after the police announced that they are reconsidering whether to investigate a Christmas party at Downing Street on December 15, 2020.
The change of heart came after a new image of Johnson himself taking part (he was reading quiz questions out in a transmission to monitor screens in another office) with three aides next to him, some wearing tinsel, a bottle of some sort of alcoholic beverage and a ripped-open packet of crisps clearly visible on the table in the foreground.
Johnson himself said during Prime Minister’s Questions that he would not refer the photograph to the police for reconsideration of their decision not to investigate the party; he claimed that the event had already been submitted for investigation.
But This Site argued that this new evidence cast a different interpretation on the party and Johnson’s part in it – and this was enough to justify reappraising it.
The Metropolitan Police seem to agree – with the argument if not with me personally – I can’t claim the Cressida Dick reads This Site religiously. Indeed, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan ready to strip her of her job if she does not improve the Met’s reputation pronto, she’s probably just pulling out all the stops to show she’s doing the best job she can.
Detectives have even applied a codename to their investigation: Operation Hillman.
Adding the December 15 party to those under investigation should not make much difference to Johnson in any event – he is already expected to be questioned over his part in some of the other 12 parties that are being investigated already.
So is his wife Carrie. As somebody who is not connected with government, what was she doing around the government offices in Downing Street, anyway?
Besides the emailed questionnaires, that are going to more than 50 people, the police are examining more than 500 documents and 300 images gathered by Cabinet Office secretary Sue Gray during her inquiry.
They have confirmed that they will be requesting further information from the Cabinet Office and will approach more people if they become identified as having participated.
And they may even be investigating Johnson for another crime in the near future: bribery.
The Labour Party has demanded that the Met should make inquiries about the money Johnson received from Lord Brownlow for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, as he appears to have asked for the Tory donor to approve spending while also suggesting that he would take action on Brownlow’s ‘Great Exhibition’ project.
The Met is said to be considering Labour’s evidence.
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
