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Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's behaviour "unacceptable", says Moray MP Douglas Ross as pair fined over Partygate


By Ewan Malcolm

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DOUGLAS Ross has labelled Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's behaviour "unacceptable" after the pair were fined for breaking lockdown laws.

Douglas Ross has condemned the PM's behaviour but stopped short of calling for his resignation. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Douglas Ross has condemned the PM's behaviour but stopped short of calling for his resignation. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Carrie Johnson, the Prime Minister's wife, has also been fined over a gathering the three were reported to have attended for the PM's birthday in June 2020.

It is the first instance of a serving Prime Minister of the UK being sanctioned for breaking the law.

Ross, Moray's MP and MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: "The public are rightly furious at what happened in Downing Street during the pandemic.

"I understand why they are angry and share their fury. The behaviour was unacceptable. The Prime Minister now needs to respond to these fines being issued.

"However, as I've made very clear, in the middle of war in Europe, when Vladimir Putin is committing war crimes and the UK is Ukraine's biggest ally, as President Zelensky said at the weekend, it wouldn't be right to remove the Prime Minister at this time.

"It would destabilise the UK Government when we need to be united in the face of Russian aggression and the murdering of innocent Ukrainians."

Ross had, at one point, called for Johnson's resignation after the PM admitted that he had attended a lockdown party.

However, he withdrew the call following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Political rival and SNP MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, has called for the pair's resignation after the news broke earlier today.

He said: "Prime Minister Boris Johnson must immediately resign as well as Chancellor Rishi Sunak as both have been fined for breaking the law and breaching the rules they imposed on the rest of the country.

"People across Moray and the UK made huge sacrifices and followed the rules in place to save lives and protect our NHS, all while Boris Johnston and his Tory Party were flouting the rules and holding parties.

"The Prime Minister has also repeatedly lied to Parliament.

"The Tory UK Government is rotten to the core and if there is any decency and respect for public office left then this should bring the whole administration down."

The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating 12 gatherings said to have taken place in Whitehall and Downing Street.

As of today, April 12, more than 50 fines have been issued with more expected.



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