Boris Johnson refuses to confirm he will resign if police says he broke lockdown lawon February 20, 2022 at 3:42 am

Boris Johnson has refused to say whether he will resign if police say he has broken lockdown laws.

The prime minister has returned his questionnaire to the Metropolitan Police who are investigating Downing Street parties.

Asked in a BBC interview whether he would resign if police decide to take action, the PM said: “I can’t comment about a process that is under way.”

More than 50 people have been sent the document by the force.

Downing Street has not revealed what Mr Johnson said in his written response to the police, only that it was sent to them within the seven-day deadline before he travelled to Munich this weekend.

But Mr Johnson was pressed on the subject by Sophie Raworth in an interview for BBC’ One’s Sunday Morning Programme. She asked whether he understood why so many people found his on-the-record explanations – including that he believed he was only attending work events – “implausible”,

Mr Johnson said: “There is simply not a bean I can tell you about that.”

He was asked if he was “burying” his “head in the sand” as he was being investigated by the police, had MPs calling on him to resign and might face a no-confidence vote.

Mr Johnson replied: “I am fortunate to live in a democracy. I am fortunate to be the PM of a free independent democratic country where people can take that sort of decision, and where I do face that sort of pressure, that’s a wonderful thing.”

The police investigation was launched in late January after an internal inquiry led by civil servant Sue Gray passed information to the force.

The initial findings of Ms Gray’s inquiry criticised “failures of leadership and judgement” over the gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall.

The police investigation, Operation Hillman, is examining 12 gatherings on eight dates – some of which the PM has already said he attended – to see if Covid regulations were broken.

The Met has said a fine would be issued to anyone found to have breached Covid regulations. A decision is not expected for weeks.

The questionnaire that was sent to Mr Johnson and scores of others requires an “account and explanation of the recipient’s participation in an event”, the Met has previously said.

The survey, sent by email, has the same status as information given in an interview under caution.

The Met said previously that it “must be answered truthfully”.