By Tony O’Reilley
Bereaved families of Covid victims put their anger on full display last night, as government ministers held a dinner on the same day 20 fines were dished out for breach of Covid rules during the pandemic.
They shouting out “off to another party are we?” after it was announced that 20 fines relating to the Met police partygate investigation will be issued.
The jeers were aimed at senior Tory MPs, including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, as they arrived to attend a dinner held by Boris Johnson at the Park Plaza- a luxury hotel near Westminster Bridge.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was also among those to arrive at the Park Plaza near Westminster Bridge shortly before 8pm last night. Some critics have questioned the purpose and timing of the dinner meeting, held the same day as embarrassing fines to government ministers for covid breaches were announced. The prime minister perhaps had a lot of important things to discuss with his ministers in light of the fines, and may have chosen to do so at a dinner meeting.
Dozens of grief-stricken relatives who lost loved ones during the height of the pandemic lined up outside the entrance on Tuesday evening to boo guests, with shouts of “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” were directed at Mr Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Simon Mundell, the former Scotland Secretary, said the gathering was just “colleagues getting together” when asked if this “party would help him forget all the other parties in No10?”
The protests came after the Met, which is investigating at least 12 allegedly illegal gatherings on government premises during the coronavirus pandemic, confirmed it will not release the names of the individuals it fines.
Over 100 people were under investigation over alleged Covid breaches and it is understood that more fines are likely to follow as Operation Hillman, as the probe is known, progresses. It is possible that some people will receive more than one fine, meaning the 20 fines to be issued may not necessarily mean 20 people are being fined.
The announcement of fines marks the first confirmation that the law was breached by people in government, despite the repeated insistence from Number 10 that rules were followed at all times during lockdown.
Jacobb Rees Mogg photographed leaving the Plazza hotel
The Met said it will refer the fines to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which will then be responsible for issuing the fixed penalty notices to the individuals.
There was a heavy police presence surrounding the hotel and the prime minister is thought to have gained access to the building through a different entrance.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith leaves the Park Plaza Hotel (Picture: PA)
No.10 said on Tuesday if Johnson is among those to receive a fine for attending parties in Downing Street it will let voters know.
June Newbon, who lost her husband to the virus, branded the evening “disgusting” in light of the Met’s conclusion that it believes laws were broken at the heart of government.
She said holding a lavish dinner was especially inappropriate given the cost-of-living crisis hitting millions of people and the war in Ukraine.
“I think it’s disgusting,” she told the PA news agency outside the hotel.
“No-one else can afford to do this given the prices going up, and the war as well.”
Newbon and her daughter Ellie said Conservative politicians would be better placed attending the candlelit procession to mark the first anniversary of the National Covid Memorial Wall, a planned event near the hotel on Westminster Bridge.
Hundreds of bereaved relatives turned up to the walk on Tuesday to commemorate their loved ones and call for the mural to be made permanent.
“I think someone should make their presence known down at the bridge today instead,” Newbon said.
“I think that’s the respect they owe us,” her daughter added.
“We haven’t had an apology from Boris and I don’t feel we’re going to have one tonight.”
Downing Street has denied Mr Johnson misled Parliament over the goings-on in Whitehall during the pandemic.
Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs parliament’s committee on standards, said: “The more I think about the PM hosting a Westminster party for MPs on the anniversary of the Covid memorial and in the face of the 20 partygate fines for breaking the law at No 10, the more I realize the Tories are laughing at us all. They must think we’re stupid.
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