Helen MacNamara: who is former government ethics chief - and how much was she fined over ‘Partygate’ scandal?

Former ethics chief Helen MacNamara has been fined by the Metropolitan Police for her involvement in the partygate scandal.

But who is Helen MacNamara and how much was she fined?

Here’s what you need to know.

Who is Helen MacNamara?

Helen MacNamara was the director general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office from 2018 to 2020, with this role in place was to ensure the highest standards of propriety, integrity and governance within government.

She was then promoted to the post of deputy cabinet secretary in March 2020, but later left government to work for the Premier League.

Why was she fined?

Ms MacNamara is said to be among the first group of people to receive a fixed-penalty notice from Scotland Yard as part of its investigation into alleged lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street and Whitehall during the Covid pandemic.

The Daily Telegraph reported that she received a £50 fine on Friday in connection with a leaving do held in the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020 while indoor gatherings were banned.

The leaving do at 70 Whitehall was reportedly held for Hannah Young, a former home affairs policy adviser who was taking up the post of deputy consul general in New York.

There were said to be about 20 people present at the leaving do, with alcohol consumed.

Who else has received a fine?

The Guardian reported that others have been fined for a gathering held on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year, with these FPNs among the initial round of 20 issued by the Metropolitan Police.

It was reported that advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events on 16 April 2021, shortly after the death of Prince Phillip.

One was for former Downing Street director of communications James Slack and the second for a photographer.

No 10 staff were said to have partied until the early hours of the morning, takeaway pizzas were reported to have been ordered in and some of those in attendance were said to have used a slide belonging to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s son, Wilfred.

The Met is investigating 12 events, including as many as six that Mr Johnson is said to have attended. It has sent out more than 100 questionnaires, with the Prime Minister receiving his in February.