Boris Johnson has been fined by the police for attending a birthday party thrown for him during a Covid lockdown.
The prime minister confirmed he had paid the fixed penalty notice for going to the hour-long gathering in the Cabinet Room on 19 June 2020.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the PM’s wife were also fined for the same event, and confirmed they had paid.
All three apologised for attending, but neither Mr Johnson nor Mr Sunak offered to resign.
In an interview from his Chequers country retreat, the PM said: “I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better. But now I feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the British people.”
After six hours of silence, Mr Sunak released his own statement, saying: “I deeply regret the frustration and anger caused and I am sorry. Like the prime minister, I am focused on delivering for the British people at this challenging time.”
The fines come as part of a Metropolitan Police investigation into illegal parties that broke Covid rules in Downing Street.
Mr Johnson’s fine makes him the UK’s first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, and Wales’ Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford are among those calling for both the PM and the chancellor to resign.
And all the main opposition parties in Westminster have demanded Parliament be recalled from its Easter break so MPs can discuss the matter.
Speaking on Tuesday, the PM claimed the event he was fined for was “a brief gathering” that lasted “less than 10 minutes.”
He added: “In all frankness, at that time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules.
“But, of course, the police have found otherwise and I fully respect the outcome of their investigation.”
Mr Johnson also said he understood the anger the public might feel that he “fell short when it came to observing the rules that the government I lead had introduced to protect the public”.
But asked if he would resign, he replied: “I want to be able to get on and deliver the mandate that I have [and] also to tackle the problems the country must face right now, and to make sure that we get on with delivering for the people of this country. That is my priority.”
In his own statement released almost three hours later, Mr Sunak said: “I understand that for figures in public office, the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence.
“I respect the decision that has been made and have paid the fine.”
