Theresa May has issued her first public remarks on the ongoing ‘partygate’ scandal embroiling No 10.

The former prime minister who resigned in 2019 following a series of defeats on her Brexit policy, told her constituents that “nobody is above the law”, in a letter revealed by a local newspaper.

The Maidenhead Advertiser based in her Berkshire seat, reported that May wrote:

“I have said previously that it is vital that those who set the rules, follow the rules. Nobody is above the law.

“This is important for ensuring the necessary degree of trust between the public and government.

“Like so many, I was angry to hear stories of those in Number 10, who are responsible for setting the coronavirus rules, not properly following the rules.”

The letter – sent ahead of the launch of a criminal investigation into the alleged gatherings by  the Metropolitan Police –made reference to top civil servant Sue Gray’s probe, which has since been delayed.

“If there is evidence of deliberate or premeditated wrongdoing, I expect full accountability to follow”, May wrote, adding that: “All those working at the heart of government should conduct themselves with the highest of standards which befits the work they do, and this applies as much to those working in Number 10 as to other parts of government.”