Thursday, October 10, 2024

Johnson pays Partygate fine but won’t quit – world

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has paid a fine from Scotland Yard for violating anti-Covid rules that police have intercepted as part of an investigation into the so-called Partigate scandal of gatherings in Downing Street in violation of anti-coronavirus rules. Covid restrictions in effect between 2020 and 2021. It was announced by Downing Street specifying that Johnson had made his most complete “apologies” for the incident, and therefore had no intention of appealing. So did his wife, Carrie Symonds-Johnson. But the Prime Minister confirmed that he does not intend to resign.

In a letter entrusted to television screens, Johnson sprinkled ashes on his head in front of British citizens. “I understand the anger of many that I failed to comply with the rules set by the same government I lead to protect public health,” he said with a regretful expression. “I honestly acknowledge that the British people have a right to expect better,” he continued, stressing that he wanted to “make” his apologies in full. Having said that, he also hinted that he wanted to stay in office to deliver on his election promises and “implement the priority commitments of the British people” with “humility”: priorities that included among them the goal of “making Putin fail in Ukraine and easing the burden on families” from due to high energy bills.

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