‘Truly shameless’: Covid bereaved families say Boris Johnson ‘took us all for mugs’ after lockdown party fine

Bereaved families have said Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak “took us all for mugs” and should “be gone tonight” after the pair were fined for breaking Covid lockdown rules.

Lobby Akinnola, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said there was “simply no way” the prime minister and chancellor could continue in post after they were handed the fines as part of a police probe into allegations of lockdown parties held at Downing Street.

He said: “After everything that’s happened it’s still unbelievably painful to know the prime minister was partying and breaking his own lockdown rules while we were unable to be at our loved ones’ sides in their dying moments, or in miserable funerals with only a handful of people because we were following the rules.

“The fact that the prime minister and his chancellor then lied about it, and would have continued to do so if the police hadn’t intervened, is truly shameless.

“They broke the law. But even worse, they took us all for mugs.”

Mr Akinnola, whose father Olufemi Akinnola died with coronavirus on 26 April 2020 aged 60, added: “There is simply no way either the prime minister or chancellor can continue.

“Their dishonesty has caused untold hurt to the bereaved.

“Not only that, but they have lost all credibility with the wider public, which could cost lives if new variants mean restrictions are needed in the future.

“If they had any decency they would be gone by tonight.”

Mr Johnson’s wife Carrie has also been told she will receive a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

The fines are among at least 30 imposed over the past fortnight and announced on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Police, bringing the total number of penalties in relation to lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to more than 50.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister and the chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan Police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices. We have no further details, but we will update you again when we do.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was among those to immediately call for both men to resign.

He said: “Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign.

“The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.”

“The basic values of integrity and decency - essential to the proper working of any parliamentary democracy - demand that he go.

“And he should take his out of touch chancellor with him.”

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon added: “Boris Johnson must resign. He broke the law and repeatedly lied to parliament about it.

“The basic values of integrity and decency - essential to the proper working of any parliamentary democracy - demand that he go.

“And he should take his out of touch chancellor with him.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “A prime minister who breaks the laws his government makes and then lies about it isn’t fit for office.

“Families made huge sacrifices and obeyed the law. Many said their last goodbyes to loved ones on the phone while the prime minister partied.

“Boris Johnson must resign.”