Met Police confirm no updates on Partygate fines will be issued until after May elections

No further updates on Partygate fines will be issued by the Metropolitan Police until after May’s local elections.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Whilst the investigation will continue during the pre-election period, due to the restrictions around communicating before the May local elections, we will not provide further updates until after 5 May.”

It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he is “extremely and sincerely sorry” for the hurt he caused by his attendance at a Downing Street birthday gathering for Boris Johnson during lockdown.

Mr Sunak, in Washington for the spring meeting of the IMF, said he respected the decision of the police to issue him with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) but added he had never considered resigning over the issue.

“I fully respect the decision that the police have reached,” he told the BBC.

“I paid the FPN notice straight away and I am extremely and sincerely sorry for the hurt and the anger that this has caused so many people.

“I believe I have always acted, I believe, in good faith in regard to what I said to Parliament.”

Asked if he had considered resigning, Mr Sunak said: “No. I am focused on getting on with the job I have got to do.”