A BACKBENCH Tory MP has said he does not believe Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak should resign after being given fixed penalties for breaching Covid rules.
Paul Howell, the only Conservative MP out of ten in the North East to agree to an interview on the matter to the Northern Echo, said the Prime Minister and Chancellor had his support ‘at this stage’.
He also said his position could change if more comes out as a result of the police investigation into allegations of socialising in Downing Street while strict coronavirus regulations were in place.
Of the other nine North East Tory MPs, one provided a written statement to the Echo, two others referred to comments on Twitter, and five others either refused or did not respond to a request for a comment, whilst another was unavailable.
Derbyshire MP Nigel Mills said it was ‘just impossible’ Mr Johnson could continue to lead the country and said he should ‘fall on his sword’ after he was hit with criminal sanctions for attending a gathering in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.
But Mr Howell, MP for Sedgefield, former Prime Minster Tony Blair’s constituency, said: “I think what they have identified is appropriate, but I don’t think it is a resigning matter.
“If it comes down to them inviting people to a bring a bottle party then you have got a different question.
“But, as it is presented at the moment, they have my full support.”
Both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak apologised on Tuesday and confirmed they had paid the fines imposed by the Metropolitan Police.
But they resisted calls for their resignations, insisting they were keen to now get on with the job.
When the so-called ‘partygate’ scandal broke earlier in the year there was a PMQs session in the House of Commons and Mr Howell was criticised when he stood up and said it was time to ‘move on’.
Speaking about his position then, Mr Howell said: “I think I was to a degree misinterpreted in what I meant by what I said.
“What I was saying at the time was that I was frustrated because the Labour Party in particular but the SNP as well were using every single question that they had to talk about ‘partygate’, as they call it, and doing nothing about the cost of living or immigrants in boats.
“I firmly accept and agree with my constituents that there is an investigation here that needs to be carried out, but I was trying to get over that it needed to be about broader subjects and not just that.”
Tuesday’s fines came in a further tranche of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) announced by Scotland Yard in relation to Operation Hillman, which is probing possible Covid breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall.
More than 50 fines have been referred to the Acro Criminal Records Office since the inquiry started.
Mr Johnson did not rule out the prospect he could be fined again for further events.
He is reported to have attended six of the 12 under investigation.
The news prompted widespread calls for his immediate resignation from opposition MPs, including Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Mr Howell’s fellow County Durham MPs Dehenna Davison, who represents Bishop Auckland and Richard Holden, for North-West Durham, have declined to comment on the issue.
Redcar MP Jacob Young is on honeymoon with his husband and is unavailable for comment.
Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer, Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy and Berwick MP Ann-Marie Trevelyan have not responded to request for comments.
Darlington MP Peter Gibson turned down a request for an interview but reiterated the statement he issued yesterday which said: “I’ve always said that where anyone broke the rules they should be subject to the same sanctions as anyone else.”
It also emerged on Tuesday that Carrie Johnson, Mr Johnson’s wife, had received and paid a fine linked to the event on June 19 2020, at which, according to Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns, the Prime Minister was “ambushed with a cake”.
Writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton South, said: “Huge sacrifices were made across the country during the dark days of lockdown. Sacrifices we will never forget.
"But now, through the PM's leadership, the UK is emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever. We must now focus our attention on delivering for Britain."
Also writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said the Prime Minister and Chancellor had his ‘full support’.
He said: “Their efforts during the pandemic have ensured the UK is now free of restrictions and avoided economic catastrophe.
“I for one am grateful to them for everything they have done for our country.
“The PM has apologised and accepted the police’s decision.
“He has accepted Sue Gray’s recommendations in full and instituted a comprehensive programme of reform in No 10.
“It’s time to get on with the job of governing at a crucial time at home and abroad.”
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