BORIS Johnson is expected to use a "unique defence" when questioned by police about his involvement in Downing Street parties with the SNP saying he is attempting to use a "loophole" to get out of it.
The Metropolitan Police are handing out letters to 50 people as part of their investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and across Whitehall.
The Prime Minister is understood to have lined up a lawyer to help him defend his role in parties in Downing Street, 12 of which are being investigated by the police for breaches of Covid laws with Johnson understood to have been at six events.
The lawyer is understood to be an expert on Covid regulations and Johnson will be personally paying for their services.
Lawyers have pointed out that the Prime Minister could argue Downing Street is both Johnson's workplace and his home. The rules at the time made it an offence to be outside your home without a reasonable excuse.
READ MORE: Carrie Johnson issues statement hitting back at 'brutal briefing campaign'
A source told The Times that the PM "will not be winging it" and will take private legal advice due to his "unique legal situation".
Other staff implicated in the scandal are also understood to be taking legal advice but do not have the same unique defence as the PM.
The PM's "unique" defence will not however stretch to claims that a party was held in his flat above No 11 Downing Street to celebrate the departure of his former top adviser, Dominic Cummings, on November 13, 2020.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said the news of Johnson's excuse "beggars belief" that he is trying to find a loophole to "wriggle off the hook".
The Prime Minister must distance himself from this extraordinary threat to the police.
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) February 11, 2022
No one is above the law, not even Boris Johnson - no matter what he might believe.
He's been caught red-handed breaking the rules, lying, and misleading Parliament. He is not fit for office. pic.twitter.com/tsmi8xLLeL
Blackford said: "Boris Johnson must distance himself from this extraordinary threat to the police.
"It beggars belief that the Tories think the Prime Minister should get special treatment - or find a loophole, within a technicality, to wriggle off the hook. Going down either path would do serious and lasting damage to any remaining public trust in the UK Government.
"No-one is above the law, not even Boris Johnson - no matter what he might believe. He's been caught red-handed breaking the rules, lying, and misleading Parliament. He is not fit for office - and if he won't resign, then Tory MPs must remove him."
READ MORE: Labour MP's whip suspended after 'making racist comment to journalist'
The 50 letters being sent by Scotland Yard out are obliged to include the standard caution for suspects that they are entitled to take legal advice before responding.
The letters are expected to be sent out today with Dame Cressida Dick saying on Thursday, before she dramatically stepped down as head of the Met, that it would be inevitable that some of the 50 would receive fixed penalty notices for their involvement.
The Met has said that recipients will have seven days to answer the formal questionnaires and outline whether they have a "reasonable excuse" for attending.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel