Welsh Secretary Simon Hart has said that now is not the time for a “self-indulgent leadership contest” when asked whether Boris Johnson should resign if he is issued a fixed penalty notice over the partygate scandal.

Mr Hart told Sky News that he thinks “the world has moved on a considerable distance”, adding that the idea that every politician who makes a misjudgement should be sacked is “not something I subscribe to”.

He said that most of his constituents “want an apology, but they don’t want a resignation”.

His comments came as it emerged that the Metropolitan Police have issued fines relating to Downing Street events on the night before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year.

Last week the force issued 20 fixed penalty notices to people who attended lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

Reports in The Telegraph newspaper suggest one of those to receive a penalty in connection with the partygate scandal is the government’s former ethics chief Helen MacNamara.

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