Lewes MP Maria Caulfield defends Boris Johnson

In January, when news of Partygate first broke, Maria Caulfield, said that she would be “calling for action against anyone who has been found to have broken the rules”.

The Conservative MP for Lewes also called for Dominic Cummings' resignation after he drove 270 miles to Durham from London in March 2020.

But the former nurse of 20 years, who helped the NHS in Covid wards during the height of the pandemic, has now defended the Prime Minister and Chancellor.

She posted on Twitter on Wednesday, after news broke that the pair had been fined for breaching Covid rules.

“I have been critical of events in Downing Street”, she said. “Apologies have been made and we need to let both the PM and the Chancellor get on with their jobs at the most difficult of times”.

Maria Caulfield in Newhaven

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak received fixed penalty notices from the Metropolitan Police for breaching Covid-19 restrictions in June 2020.

Mr Johnson’s wife Carrie also received a fine.

The PM claimed the event he was fined for – a gathering in the Cabinet Room to mark his birthday – was “brief” and lasted “less than 10 minutes”.

In January, Ms Caulfield said: “I spoke out publicly when Dominic Cummings broke the rules during lockdown and called for his resignation and so I will be calling for action against anyone who has been found to have broken the rules.

“It is clear that there was a culture inside Number 10 where even if rules were not technically broken, the spirit of the rules were, and this is completely unacceptable.”

PM Boris Johnson at Fourpure Brewery in London, October 2021

The police are looking into 12 parties overall and have already issued more than 50 fines, with more expected to come.

Lewes Liberal Democrats claim Ms Caulfield has "fallen in line and backed her boss".

Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, added: “Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak took the country’s sacrifices for granted, while they broke the law to party in Downing Street. They are not fit to hold office. If they had a shred of decency, they would resign. 

“Parliament should be recalled immediately so that MPs can hold a vote of no confidence. Conservative MPs must do their patriotic duty and kick these criminals out of government once and for all.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey

James MacCleary, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Lewes, said: "Back in January the local Conservative MP, Maria Caulfield, was very clear that she would call for action against anyone found to be breaking the rules. However, now that the time has come to speak out on behalf of residents, she has fallen in line and backed her boss.

“There is so much to find despicable about the behaviour of the Boris Johnson, but the heartless lack of concern for the sacrifices made by so many people during the lockdowns is particularly appalling."

Ms Caulfield was approached for comment regarding her position on what action should be taken if people were found to be at the Downing Street parties but did not respond.