Just before Christmas the police watchdog decided it will not investigate a complaint over the Metropolitan Police’s handling of an alleged Downing Street party.
Scotland Yard had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after concerns were raised over its response to the December 18 2020 event, and its lack of an investigation.
After “having fully assessed the referral”, the IOPC “decided it is invalid” and returned it to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to handle as “it determines would be appropriate”.
Green Party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb initially wrote to the watchdog to make a complaint, with the Met replying to her to confirm it had been split into two parts.
Lady Jones argued there is a “case to answer” for the Met “aiding and abetting a criminal offence, or deliberately failing to enforce the law in favour of Government politicians and their staff” due to the “extensive” police presence in Downing Street.
In her complaint letter, she added: “If there was an unlawful gathering taking place at Number 10 Downing Street then the police must have known, and were highly likely to have played an active part in organising or facilitating the illegal gathering.”
So is it over?
It appears that the police and the police watchdog want to move on from the allegations, but has the general public?
Well it appears not, a series of videos by lawyer Peter Stefanovic have notched up 5.5 million views, which shows there is still a lot of anger around the gatherings in Downing Street.
It is also reflected in the polls where Labour have taken an 8 per cent lead over the Tories and would land a 26-seat majority for the current opposition party.
This thread (below) contains all of the clips that have covered #PartyGate. A story the government wants you to forget but shows no signs of going away
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Peter’s video calling out Boris Johnson’s lies has reached almost 43 million views.
Related: Peter Stefanovic slams Boris for claiming post-Brexit Britain is thriving