Rishi Sunak offers unreserved apology, pays ‘PartyGate’ fine – Times of India

London: UK chancellor Rishi Sunki has offered an “unreserved apology” and paid a fine imposed by Scotland Yard for violating COVID lockdown rules in June 2020 when he attended the birthday party of his boss – the Prime Minister – in Downing Street Had happened. boris johnson,
The Indian-origin finance minister offered an apology in a statement released on Tuesday evening after Johnson’s own apology and confirmation that he had also paid his fine.
where did it go partygate Around 12 parties have been under police investigation as part of Operation Hillman scandal in Downing Street and other UK government offices in Whitehall in violation of coronavirus law during 2020-2021.
“I can confirm that I have received a definite fines notice from the Metropolitan Police in connection with a gathering held in Downing Street on June 19,” Sunak said in his statement.
“I tender an unconditional apology,” the 41-year-old minister said.
“I understand that for figures in public office, the rules must be strictly enforced to maintain public confidence. I respect the decision made and have paid the fine. I respect the decision made and The fine has been paid,” he said.
The partygate saga comes at the end of a particularly difficult few days for Sunak’s role as chancellor, when he was allegedly unfairly held in a high political office in Britain by his Indian wife Akshata Murthy and his own US Green Card status. There were allegations of savings.
Infosys co-founder’s daughter Murthy Narayana Murthyhas since issued a statement to say that she will now opt to pay all her taxes in the UK so that the legally permitted non-domicile tax status is not a distraction to her ministerial husband.
Meanwhile, Sunak has sent himself to the government’s independent watchdog to confirm that he has made all legally required ministerial announcements on his financial affairs.
While the opposition has called for the resignation of the two senior-most government officials for breaking the law with Partygate, Johnson and Sunak have both insisted they intend to get their jobs.
“Like the prime minister, I am focused on working for the British people in these challenging times,” Sunak said.
UK cabinet ministers and Conservative MPs have rallied around the two, as a leadership contest is not seen as ideal amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the dire cost of living crisis domestically.
Earlier on Tuesday, in a video statement from his Checkers residence, Johnson said: “On the whole, at the time I didn’t think it might be a violation of the rules. But, of course, police found otherwise. I fully respect the outcome of their investigation.”
His wife, Carrie Johnson, also made an “unreserved” apology after confirming she had received and paid the fine for the same cabinet room party in Downing Street for which she brought a cake to surprise her husband on his birthday on June 19 Was. 2020.
This makes Johnson the first UK prime minister to be accepted for breaking the law.
It is expected that Johnson and Sunak would have been given a fine of £200 at most, a sanction similar to a parking ticket. Unless challenged, there is no court process involved after the payment of the fine.
Reports of parties holding Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown that limit such gatherings to control the spread of the deadly virus first surfaced in December 2021. Both Johnson and Sunak said at the time that they had not attended either party.
However, as revelations of several gatherings surfaced, Britain’s prime minister ordered an investigation into the allegations of rule-breaking, led by senior civil servant Sue Grey, and was forced to apologise. Parliament On reports of lockdown violations.
Gray reported to the Met Police at the end of his investigation, which found some wrongdoing, and Operation Hillman was launched earlier this year.
The full Sue Gray report will not be released until the Met Police have completed their investigation, which is when Johnson has also committed to making a statement to the House of Commons.