A Durham mum has called on Boris Johnson to pay back everyone who was handed a Covid fine following Sue Gray’s report regarding Downing Street’s booze-fuelled bashes in lockdown.
Amanda Martindale explained that her son was handed a fine for attending a seven-person gathering at a house in Prudhoe, Northumberland on 20 March, 2021, during the third national lockdown amid Tier 4 restrictions.
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Fortunately, the 23-year-old was eventually able to pay the fine thanks to a family loan - but after finding out Johnson paid just £50 for his lockdown breach, Amanda believes it's 'one rule for them and another for everyone else'.
Speaking after the publication of the long-awaited report, Amanda branded the prime minister 'absolutely disgraceful' after he was only slapped with a £100 fine while her son Alex was given one worth £1,100 after he had initially failed to pay.
The Met Police previously said it had issued 126 fixed penalty notices over 12 events that were investigated in and around Number 10.
Among those fined were for Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
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However, their £100 penalties were slashed to £50 because they were paid off within 14 days.
Amanda said: "It's absolutely disgraceful. £50 to them is nothing - £1,100 to a 23-year-old is an awful lot of money. To them it's just spare change in their pockets - Rishi Sunak is a millionaire and he's got a £50 fine, it's a joke.
"It just makes a mockery of everything they said, and I can't believe he was such a liar, saying all the rules were followed.
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"It's absolutely disgraceful and I think [the prime minister] should reimburse all the people who've paid their fines - he can afford it.
"They just seem to sweep it under the carpet, and I think with this government they use something else, like the war in Ukraine, which I know is very serious, to try and make us forget about the parties.”
Amanda added that the leader of the country was treated more leniently than her son, questioning why the prime minister had only been handed one fine, when the Sue Gray report said he was present at eight of the listed events.
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Amanda said: "At the end of the day, my son was 23 - he shouldn't have done it, but the prime minister should know better than him. It's just one rule for them and another rule for everyone else."
Johnson has been heavily criticised over a number of boozy parties that took place at No.10 during the pandemic.
Released on Tuesday (25 May), the report revealed stories of employees being rude to cleaners and security staff, one person vomiting, two being involved in an altercation and even a karaoke machine being brought in for a sing-along.
Earlier this week, images obtained by ITV News showed Johnson raising a glass at the leaving party held on 13 November, 2020, for former Director of Communications Lee Cain while the rest of the UK was in lockdown.
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A further eight people and the photographer can be seen standing in close proximity, although a source told the publication there were other guests who weren't in shot.
At the time the party was held, social events with people outside of their household were banned after Johnson announced a strict lockdown due to rising Covid cases.
Back in December 2021, Johnson denied any gatherings taking place when asked specifically about the 13 November event.
Topics: UK News, Boris Johnson
Lisa McLoughlin