British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) Rishi Sunak will be fined by police for breaching COVID-19 lockdown rules, the government said on Tuesday.

The UK Metropolitan police said earlier officers have now issued more than 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices in relation to COVID-19 lockdown gatherings in Whitehall and Downing Street. 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Minister Rishi Sunak have received notification the police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices, according to a government statement.