The government’s former ethics chief has apologised for an “error of judgement” after being fined by the Met Police for going to a lockdown-breaking party in Westminster.

Helen MacNamara said she has paid the fine she was handed in connection with a leaving party held in the Cabinet Office on June 18 2020 to mark the departure of a private secretary.

She said in a statement: “I am sorry for the error of judgement I have shown. I have accepted and paid the fixed penalty notice.”

Ms MacNamara was the government’s director general for propriety and ethics from 2018 to 2020. She now works for the Premier League.

Last week the Metropolitan Police announced 20 fines in relation to an investigation into alleged lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020 and 2021.

Ms MacNamara is the first person to confirm they have paid a penalty in relation to the investigation.

The Telegraph reported that the fine was in relation to a “raucous” karaoke party at which there was a drunken brawl.

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