The Metropolitan Police has begun to roll out the first fixed-penalty fines in connection with the lockdown parties that took place between 2020 and 2022.
But so far Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not been given one, says Downing Street.
The Prime Minister was one of 100 people asked by the Met to fill in a questionnaire about his involvement in the alleged parties, which broke Covid-19 regulations in place at the time.
His official spokesperson told journalists this afternoon “we’ve said we will update if” he is found to have broken the law, reports City AM.
The partygate scandal saw a number of illegal gatherings take place at both Downing Street and Whitehall whilst the rest of the country was under striction restrictions that forbid social mixing between households.
Today, the Met has issued the first wave of fines for those involved.
It’s understood they apply to more straight-forward cases, and the Prime Minister is not included - something that has been confirmed this afternoon by Downing Street.
Boris Johnson is expected to be at the ‘bottom of the pile’, The Mirror has reported, due to the ‘politically explosive’ nature of his case.
The police are issuing 20 fines over the Downing Street lockdown parties. Credit: Met Police
The Met Police have been investigating 12 gatherings that took place during Covid lockdowns, in breach of the Government’s own regulations and guidance, reports The Manc.
Officers say they are ‘making every effort to progress this investigation at speed’.
This first wave of penalties from the Met confirms that the rules were broken by Downing Street staff members.
A statement issued this morning says: “We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations.
“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.”
Gray’s report looked into 2020 events on 15 May, 20 May, 18 June, 19 June, 13 November, 27 November, 10 December, 15 December, 17 December and 18 December, as well as events on 14 January 2021 and 16 April 2021.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
News
Fire tears through historic Yorkshire mill for THIRD time this year
Another huge blaze has ripped through the historic Dalton Mills in West Yorkshire, which has played a starring role in major TV shows.
The beautiful old mill in Keighley was set ablaze on Saturday evening, with a huge emergency services response.
Around the time the blaze started, 12 fire engines were called to the scene, and residents nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed.
A number of people who lived in the surrounding area were also evacuated from their homes.
By Sunday morning, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the situation was now 'under control' and thanked the public for their patience.
This is the third fire at Dalton Mills this year alone, devastating the Grade II-listed Victorian building, which was used as a filming location for period dramas Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.
Robbie Moor, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, shared a video of himself at the scene over the weekend and said the scenes at Dalton Mills were 'extremely concerning'.
He praised the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service for their hard work, alongside police and ambulance crews.
He added in a post on X: "Huge thanks to our emergency services for all their efforts and bravery as they continue to tackle the blaze and put out this major fire, and ensure all are safe.
"Thank you also to all who have contacted me this evening. I have visited the scene myself and spoke with the emergency services and neighbouring residents."
In a video statement, he added: "We’ve had another major fire, here in the centre of Keighley, which is deeply infuriating for us all but most importantly those residents that live alongside Dalton Mills, and those businesses.
"This situation just simply cannot continue.
"You know that I’ve been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now, and this is our next major fire."
Inside Moida, the new Korean beauty and skincare store in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
If your skincare routine has been needing an upgrade, there's some good news waiting for you inside Trinity Leeds.
The shopping centre has just welcomed Moida, a brand-new beauty retailer specialising in authentic Korean skincare, bringing some of the world's most sought-after K-beauty products to Leeds.
Named after the Korean word meaning 'to gather' or 'come together', moida is all about making Korean skincare easy to discover and accessible for everyone.
Inside the new store that has taken over the old Claire's Accessories site, shoppers can expect an extensive range of handpicked products from some of the biggest names in K-beauty, including Beauty of Joseon, Dr. Althea, TIRTIR, Medicube, Biodance, and more cult-favourite brands.
The collection has been curated by a team of Korean beauty experts with close links to Korea, meaning customers can expect everything from viral TikTok sensations to exclusive products that are often difficult to get hold of elsewhere in the UK.
Moida K-Beauty has opened in Trinity Leeds. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: "With Korean skincare still increasing in popularity, moida brings an exciting new concept to the centre. Offering guests viral products alongside everyday essentials, plus the chance to browse new brands in-store will be a fantastic experience.
"We know moida is going to be a brilliant addition for both existing fans of K-beauty and those keen to discover it for the first time."
It's the latest announcement following the recent launches of Lane7, Footasylum, LEGO, Jerk Junction, The Fragrance Shop and schuh at Trinity Leeds.
The Hoot -
29th March 2022 
