Boris Johnson severs ties with lawyers after police referral

FILE PHOTO: Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks at the parliament, in London, Britain, March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Boris Johnson cut ties with his government-appointed lawyers on Wednesday after he was referred to the police over more potential breaches of COVID-19 lockdown rules, a move the former prime minister's aides have portrayed as a "stitch up".

The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for overseeing the operation of government, said on Tuesday it had made a new referral to police based on information discovered while preparing submissions for a public inquiry into the pandemic.