BORIS JOHNSON should retain his position as Prime Minister despite rising criticism over his partygate fine, author Laura Dodsworth wrote. Instead, he should be held accountable for rules enacted during the height of the Covid pandemic.

Following the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Hillman probe into partygate, the Prime Minister and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak were issued fixed penalty notices. However, the Prime Minister may yet face more fines.

Mr. Johnson previously expressed regret for attending the “bring your own booze” affair, stating that he “implicitly believed” it was a company function.

When the event took place on 20 May 2020, strict Covid rules were in effect.

Individuals were not permitted to leave their homes or go outside the area in which they lived without a reasonable justification, which included labor that could not be done from home.

On the same day, the Government’s Twitter account reminded people of current guidance for outdoor gatherings to be confined to no more than two individuals.

Mr. Johnson returned to the UK on Friday following a two-day trip to India, during which he downplayed the partygate controversy, stating that people wanted the Government to “focus on the issues on which we were elected.”

Mr. Johnson stated in January that he attended the garden party for 25 minutes to express gratitude to the personnel for their work, but that he should have ordered everyone back inside.

The gathering was revealed as a result of a leaked email from Mr. Johnson’s former principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, asking attendees to “enjoy the great weather.”

The email was sent to a list of approximately 100 recipients, and the BBC has been informed that approximately 30 individuals attended.

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'Let's hold his feet to the fire and make sure all the criticism and punishment comes for the right reasons.'

Author Laura Dodsworth says Boris Johnson should stay as Prime Minister and that criticism of him should be over lockdowns, not partygate. pic.twitter.com/qL5VnSLQdX

— GB News (@GBNEWS) April 23, 2022

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