Mayor of London Sadiq Khan asks police for an explanation of Number 10 Party Gate fines

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked the Metropolitan Police for a "detailed explanation" of how it decided who to OK during its investigation into Number 10 parties.

The mayor's spokesperson said Sadiq Khan was concerned a "lack of clarity" was eroding "trust" in the police.

The police completed their inquiry last week, having issued 126 fines, including one for the Prime Minister.

However, photos of Boris Johnson at a leaving have raised questions about why he did not receive a second fine.

Pictures obtained by ITV News are believed to show the Prime Minister at a leaving party for his communications chief Lee Cain on 13th November 2020.

The BBC has been told that at least one person who attended the event was fined, but the Prime Minister was not.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the pictures were "difficult to look at" but added that the police would have "thoroughly investigated" the event.

Following the release of the photographs on Monday evening, the Liberal Democrats wrote to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, asking the body to investigate the police's inquiry.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it had received the complaint and had sent it to the Metropolitan Police, asking the force "to confirm to us how it intends to manage it".

Now, Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan had written to the acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Stephen House, to "seek a detailed explanation of the factors which were taken into account by investigating officers when decisions were made about whether to take action in individual cases in the Downing Street 'Party Gate' investigation".

ITV published pictures of Boris Johnson at Lee Cain's leaving do.

His spokesperson said he had asked the police "to take steps to also reassure Londoners by making this explanation to them directly because he is concerned that this lack of clarity is further eroding the trust and confidence of Londoners in the police".

"The mayor has been clear he cannot and would not intervene in operational decisions, however with the investigation now complete; he has made this request following the Policing Protocol Order 2011 paragraph 23(g)."

A Number 10 spokesperson has said the police had been given access to information, including photographs, for its investigation.

The inquiry concluded that a total of 126 fixed penalty notices were issued to eighty-three individuals for parties held over eight separate dates.

Last month, the police issued fines to Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak for attending a birthday party for the Prime Minister in June 2020.

The Prime Minister apologised and said, "people had the right to expect better".

However, he is facing endless questions after one insider who attended lockdown events told the BBC's Panorama that they felt like they had the Prime Minister's permission to socialise even if it meant breaking the rules because "he was there".

A long-anticipated report from senior civil servant Sue Grey into rule-breaking events in government buildings during the coronavirus lockdown has been published today (May 25th).

A government source has also told the BBC there will be a statement to Parliament and a press conference by the Prime Minister once the report is published.

Boris Johnson is also expected to address a meeting of his backbenchers at the 1922 Committee.