Tale of two Johnsons: Care worker Andrea Johnson got on-the-spot lockdown fine while Boris Johnson partied

A home care worker has revealed how she received an on-the-spot £200 fine for breaching lockdown rules and visiting a beauty spot after her shift, while parties 'that should not have been allowed to happen' held at Downing Street during lockdown clearly broke rules on social distancing.

Civil servant Sue Gray's recent inquiry concluded many of the parties at Downing Street 'should not have been allowed to happen', that staff who raised concerns were not treated with respect and there were 'failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office'.

Mr Johnson has said he is “humbled” by the findings of the report into Downing Street parties but refused to resign when he was repeatedly asked to in the House of Commons.

Damning revelations about No.10 parties

The parties under Mr Johnson’s watch have prompted anger amongst the public including care staff like home care worker Andrea Johnson who was slapped with an on-the-spot police fine for being in a beauty spot after finishing a shift.

While the government told the public to socially distance and follow the rules, the extent of parties under Mr Johnson's own roof included wine being spilt down walls, a worker vomiting, parties till 4am, excessive boozing, staff sitting on other people’s laps, some karaoke and a near-fight between two revellers.

Emails inviting staff to ‘wine time Friday’ were sent weekly.

Sue Gray’s report included emails and messages that showed many gatherings were planned in advance, with discussions on who would bring alcohol. Ms Gray’s interim findings were published in January this year, but the details were withheld until the end of a police inquiry, which concluded with 126 fines being handed out. In total, 83 people were fined by the police for breaking lockdown laws at No.10.

Mr Johnson attended eight of the 16 gatherings (aka parties), Sue Gray’s report revealed. Mr Johnson was fined by police for his birthday party in June 2020, which had been arranged as a surprise by his aides.

A tale of two Johnsons

Prime minister Boris Johnson’s police fine issued long after his crime was in stark contrast to a home care worker’s “unfair” treatment by police during lockdown.

Home care worker Andrea Johnson from Somerset says she was reduced to tears after being fined on the spot for breaching lockdown rules, as she sat in her car to take a break after visiting a home care client.

Miss Johnson from Watchet travelled from her home care client’s house in Williton, Somerset on 11 February 2021 to Dead Woman's Ditch, a local beauty spot, to eat a sandwich before going for a walk.

She was sitting in her car at the car park in Over Stowey, Bridgewater at 2.45pm when a police officer issued her with a £200 fine for "not having a reasonable excuse" to travel to the area.

The home care worker started to cry after the officer gave her the fine. At the time, the key worker was working as a home care worker and also part-time at Morrisons supermarket.

Care worker called 'expensive' fine 'really unfair'

Coronavirus rules at the time in February 2021 stipulated that people must not leave or be outside of their home except where they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ and should 'stay local' when going for exercise.

Miss Johnson feels the fine is "really unfair" as she was just sitting in her car about to go for a walk.

The mother of one said: "I had just finished my morning of work and had the rest of the day off so went up there just minding my own business in my car.

"I thought we could go somewhere locally for a walk, as I think it is less than ten miles from there to my home. I had my headphones in and was just about to eat my sandwich before going on the walk."

Miss Johnson received a fine in the post, which read: ‘Female motorist has driven from her home address in Watchet to the Quantocks - 14 miles to sit in her vehicle and listen to music. Not to exercise. She has not given a reasonable excuse.'

"I do not think it is 14 miles from my home to the car park and even less from Williton where I had been. I asked if I could be given a warning instead as I've never done anything before but was told no. As I drove away I did get a bit teary thinking how has this happened. I've been trying my best and got a fine that is really expensive."

Miss Johnson had been working as self-employed home care worker with two other care workers.

“We have about 16 or so clients across the area who we've been looking after - doing shopping, home visits, picking up prescriptions - everything. I've had my doubts, thinking was I doing anything wrong but I was by myself in my car. I work so hard with two key worker jobs and I feel I do not deserve this."

MP and ex-care worker: Police 'turned a blind eye' at No.10 breaches

Referring to an extract of Sue Gray's report which described an incident one evening in which a police officer on No.10 door duty witnessed a large gathering of over 20 people, Nadia Whittome MP, who volunteered to work at a care home during the pandemic, (@Nadia WhittomeMP) tweeted: ‘Here it is in black and white.

‘The police witnessed these parties in Downing St directly and turned a blind eye. Meanwhile, when police found a care worker sitting alone in her car at a beauty spot after her shift, she was fined £200. One rule for them... ‘

Ms Whittome MP also tweeted: ‘I wrote to Cressida Dick back in December asking an for investigation into whether police on duty in Downing St were aware of the parties and why they didn't act.’

'Plenty' of care staff worked 'extremely long hours' with 'no wine'

Mr Johnson said he felt it was his "duty" to attend leaving-dos of colleagues to thank them.

Andy McGowan, head of engagement at Caring Together, a charity supporting over 17,000 carers of all ages and their families every year, thought the Prime Minister could have found other ways to thank his staff who were leaving.

Mr McGowan tweeted: ‘Yes it is right to thank staff who are leaving. But the rest of us did it with virtual cards, e-messages, zoom send-offs & home delivery!

'And I know of plenty of health and social care staff & teachers who worked extremely long hours during pandemic - no wine or cheese in sight!’

Mr Johnson said in the House of Commons that he “had no knowledge of subsequent proceedings because I simply wasn’t there, and I have been as surprised and disappointed as anyone”.

Attacked at the dispatch box in the Commons by Labour leader Keir Starmer for being the first Prime Minister in the nation’s history to have broken the law, the Opposition party leader described Mr Johnson as having "set the bar" for conduct "lower than a snake's belly".