Boris Johnson: Bereaved Covid husband calls for PM to resign

Samantha Willis died with the virus after spending sixteen days in hospital in August last year

A man whose wife died with Covid-19 after giving birth to their daughter last year has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign.

It comes after it emerged the PM was fined by the police for attending a birthday party during a Covid lockdown.

Josh Willis' wife, Samantha, who was unvaccinated, died after spending 16 days in a hospital last year.

The mother-of-four from Londonderry was buried at a service in which her new-born daughter Eviegrace was baptised.

Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Johnson received the fixed penalty notice (FNP) for going to the hour-long gathering in the Cabinet Room on 19 June 2020.

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• The Covid rules when Downing Street parties were held

Mr Johnson later said that he had paid the fine - but did not say how much it was.

The prime minister apologised, but said he would not resign over the incident.

"I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better," Mr Johnson said on Tuesday

Mr Johnson's fine makes him the UK's first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak also issued an "unreserved apology" and paid a fine relating to a gathering on the same date.

'Not going to put a dent in their wallets'

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Mr Willis said that he did not believe a fine was "good enough".

"I don't think it's going to do them much good because they have deep pockets," Mr Willis said.

"I don't know how much of a fine it will be anyway, but I am sure it's not going to put a dent in their wallets."

Mr Willis said he believed a more appropriate action would be for Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak to resign, as they had "made the rules" and broken them.

The coffin of Samantha Willis being carried at the service in Derry last year

"There was people dying, there was people who couldn't see their families, they couldn't go to funerals.

"We were lucky in that way, that we got to have a fairly normal funeral, but there were many that didn't."

Mr Willis said that whatever happened "it will not bring Samantha back" but added he believed "if they are going to punish them it should be in a way that actually punishes them".

"Anybody that was setting the rules should definitely resign or go," he said.

Josh Willis' daughter Eviegrace was christened during the same service his wife was buried

Mr WIllis said that he will not let the party or subsequent fines "get him down because it cannot change anything".

He said that although Samantha was "not there in person" she was looking over him as he raised their two children together by himself.

"I am just keeping my head down and moving forward, trying to do the best I can for the two wee ones and hopefully one day they'll thank me for it.

"I know I can't change anything, I can't go back in time, If I could go back I would go back and try and make it better but I know it's not going to happen."

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Previously Mr Johnson ordered an inquiry into the allegations of rule-breaking, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray.

The Met initially said it would not retrospectively investigate the allegations unless "significant evidence" of a regulation breach came forward.

But after Ms Gray passed information to officers, they launched their own inquiry.

The Metropolitan Police is looking into 12 alleged law-breaking gatherings across Whitehall.

So far, more than 50 fines have been handed out, with more expected.

Those who receive fines can either pay within 28 days or contest the police decision.

If they contest the fine, police will review the case and then either withdraw the penalty or take the matter to court.

Fixed penalty notices for breaking Covid laws do not result in a criminal record.