UK Police Looking Into Johnson's Alleged 'Booze' Lockdown Parties As His Popularity Craters

The fallout from U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s alleged boozy lockdown parties are entering new territory as police in London are now investigating whether any crimes were committed.

On Tuesday, the commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Cressida Dick, announced the launch of a formal investigation into whether the series of lockdown parties attended by Johnson and members of his staff at the height of the coronavirus pandemic broke the law.

Fueling Dick’s choice to launch an inquiry followed the receipt of information from the Cabinet Office after it conducted its own investigation into the parties.

“As a result, firstly, of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team, and, secondly, my own officers’ assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations," Dick told the London Assembly.

The Cabinet's investigation, led by former civil servant Sue Gray, would continue to collect evidence that it would formally send to Scotland Yard, the Guardian reported. Launching investigations into retrospective incidents is not an ordinary matter, according to Dick, but she said the circumstances met the extraordinary requirements for doing so here. To guide her decision to investigate, the Commissioner outlined the three criteria that her officers followed to reach this choice.

The first factor was the available evidence that those involved knew or should have known that they were breaking the law, said Dick. Other factors included a pressing need to ensure accountability because "not investigating would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law," and where there was little doubt around whether or not a reasonable defense of the actions existed.

After news of the police probe was revealed, a spokesperson for Johnson said that No. 10 would offer his full cooperation. Asked whether he believed he had broken the law, they replied, “it’s fair to say he does not.”

A series of eight parties are under police scrutiny, including a May 2020 “bring your own booze” style romp that Johnson attended, NBC News reports. He claimed that he believed the event was a work party. Other parties under investigation include an event attended by government staffers a day before Prince Philip’s funeral, NPR reports.

These parties violated U.K-wide COVID-19 regulations that put a limit on the number of people allowed for outdoor and indoor gatherings to curb the virus. Johnson, who himself tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, apologized for the actions of his staff in an address to the public and to the Queen.

The outrage that has followed what has been termed “Partygate” by some pundits has dented Johnson’s once-formidable political standing. His Conservative Party had won a landslide election victory in 2019 right before COVID-19 hit the U.K, but it has steadily tanked over time as scandals related to the pandemic, public safety, and taxation cut into Johnson’s support.

According to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday, it was found that 62% of Britons think that Johnson should resign with only 25% saying he should remain in office. Among his Conservatives, the divide was split with 38% calling for his resignation versus 49% who opposed an exit. Of the voters in the opposition Labour Party, 88% said Johnson needed to go.