The Moorlands MP, Karen Bradley, has reacted to the fines issued to the Prime Minister and others for breaking lockdown rules.

Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and Rishi Sunak were among those to be fined £50 for attending a surprise birthday party for Mr Johnson in Downing Street on 19 June 2020 - when social gatherings of more than two people inside were banned by law.

Mrs Bradley has since released a statement on the fines. Read what she had to say below:

My constituents know that I have been clear that those that make the rules must not break them, whether intentionally or otherwise. The public are right to expect the highest standards of behaviour from their leaders.  I am proud of the British values of democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance and the rule of law and have been privileged to promote those values around the world as an MP and during my time as a Government Minister. But we will lose the right to promote those values if we do not uphold them ourselves. There is still much that we do not know about what happened in Downing Street during the pandemic and I urge the Government to provide all information as soon as possible so that fair judgements can be made. 

Whilst law breaking in Downing Street is unforgivable, I am very aware that Europe is in a precarious position and that we all need to act responsibly so as to not make the situation worse.

I will spend the next few days consulting my constituents and will decide on what action to take after listening to them. But I do wish to make it clear that if I had been a Minister found to have broken the laws that I passed, I would be tendering my resignation now.

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