Dominic Raab has defended Downing Street staff who were under “incredible pressure” after police investigating the partygate scandal began to announce fines for lockdown breaches.
The deputy prime minister admitted that “there were clearly things that were got wrong” but said the prime minister had since overhauled the Number 10 operation.
Mr Raab’s comments come a day after the Met said 20 fixed penalties were set to be issued following its investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020 and 2021.
Opposition politicians have called for Boris Johnson to resign over laws being broken in Number 10.
Mr Raab described what had happened as “deeply regrettable”.
But he told Sky News: “My experience was the incredible pressure and hard work and dedication of the overwhelming majority of people working in Number 10.”
Mr Raab said he agreed with the need for accountability for what had taken place, adding: “It’s not right to tar all the civil servants who have worked so hard during this pandemic.”
“I don’t accept the sort of caricature is right,” he added.
“I saw a lot of people working incredibly long hours under incredible pressure doing their very best.
“I think there clearly were things that were got wrong.
“That’s why the PM overhauled the operation in Number 10 Downing Street.
100 people were sent formal legal questionnaires by the police investigation Operation Hillman
“It’s well known the individuals that have come in and the individuals, at least some of them, that have left, and that’s because he takes it so seriously and we do take it so seriously.
“Government gets things wrong and civil servants and, lord knows, politicians get…
Source : skynews
