A FORMER mayor who resigned following a Covid breach says the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are making ‘fools of the British people’.

Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Iftakhar Hussain said the fines levied against Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Carrie Johnson have "proved how the government has lied" ever since the allegations of parties at the heart of government were revealed.

Mr and Mrs Johnson and Mr Sunak apologised on Tuesday and confirmed they had paid fines imposed by the Metropolitan Police over a gathering held on June 19, 2020, to mark the Prime Minister’s 56th birthday.

Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Johnson said it “did not occur” to him that the gathering might be breaching Covid rules, while Mr Sunak said he understood that “for figures in public office, the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence”.

Both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak have resisted calls for their resignations – insisting they were keen to now get on with the job.

More Covid fines could be issued to Mr Johnson in the coming weeks as the Metropolitan Police works its way through the numerous parties held at Downing Street.

Cllr Hussain resigned as the borough’s ‘first citizen’ and suspended himself from the council’s ruling Labour group after being given a £200 fine for breaching Covid rules in February 2021.

Cllr Hussain said: "The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have been found to have broken the law and both received fines for their role in the lockdown parties. 

"The Conservative Party have utter contempt for the British people, with Government ministers repeatedly lying and denying the parties. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak must now resign.

“This is becoming more and more surreal. First there was no party. Then no rules were broken and guidelines were followed and now we have a Prime Minister telling us all to forgive him.

“The excuses used by all those who are trying to defend the government are nonsense. I would like to know how the very same people who are saying it is ‘no big deal’ acted when ordinary members of the public were being fined for breaching rules.

"Why not refund all those people now?

“This matters to so many people because these are the rules they the government made. You can’t make the rules and then secretly break them after having gone on national TV to tell us what to do.

“The government continue to try to make fools of the British public."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson were fined by police for breaking lockdown rules in Downing Street in June 2020. (PA)

In February, last year Cllr Hussain apologised for what he said was an "error of judgement" in attending an event, described as a wedding with up to 30 people present, when indoor household mixing was forbidden.

The Bastwell and Daisyfield councillor was one of nine people fined by police.

He said he had been called to a house in Blackburn and realised he should have refused to attend.

At the time Cllr Hussain said: “I do not want to make any excuses. I regret the momentary lapse of judgement.

“I should have known better and I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

Speaking today he said: “In my case I apologised straight away and accepted the consequences.

"What the British people do not understand is why we have had this whole saga dragged on and on with lie after lie.

“It was clear from the onset something rotten was going on at the heart of government.

“I also do not believe that a war means that we should ignore the actions of the Prime Minister.

"Countries have changes in leadership all the time during war and I think this is now being used as a feeble excuse.”