Boris Johnson is facing a deeper danger over the Partygate scandal after a source said a fine had been issued for a second event attended by the prime minister, while senior Conservatives warned he could face a leadership challenge within a few weeks.
On Friday evening, No 10 was forced to deny Johnson had received another fixed penalty notice FPN for bringing your own booze Downing Street garden party on May 20th, 2020.
In January Johnson admitted to having attended the event held during the first national lock-down when indoor and outdoor social mixing were banned for around 25 minutes but admitted he believed that this was a work event Johnson's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, is said to have invited up to 100 people to socially distanced evening drinks.
A FPN was issued to a Downing Street official who attended the event, according to a source told the Guardian. A spokesman for Johnson said he had not received a new fine after he completed a two-day trade trip to India on Friday.