UK politics - as it happened: Presidents Club to close after widespread criticism in wake of sexual harassment claims

Pressure mounts on government figures who attended controversial all-male event

David Davis grilled by Jacob Rees-Mogg at Brexit committee

Politicians lined up to condemn alleged inappropriate behaviour at the Presidents Club dinner after claims that a number of women were sexually harassed at the male-only event.

Trustees of the charity have announced it is to close with no further fundraising events planned and the remaining funds shared among charities.

Pressure is mounting on government minister Nadhim Zahawi, who attended the event. There have been calls for the education minister to resign, but Theresa May's spokesman said the Prime Minister had no plans to talk to him about his attendance at the dinner.

Mr Zahawi said he felt uncomfortable at the dinner and left early. He will not be attending male-only events in future, he added.

Earlier in the day, David Davis was grilled by MPs as he gave evidence to the Brexit Select Committee.

The Brexit Secretary was asked about the next round of negotiations with EU leaders, which begin in March, and the Government's plan for a transitional period before Britain leaves the EU.

He confirmed that the UK would remain in the single market "in operational terms" during the transitional period, the details of which he said would be agreed by the end of March. In a move likely to anger many Tory MPs, he also confirmed that Britain would have to abide by the rulings of European courts during that time.

This afternoon, Labour will try to force the Government to release the risk assessments it carried out before granting major public contracts to the construction firm Carillion, which collapsed earlier this month.

The tactic proved successful in forcing the Government to give MPs access to its Brexit impact assessments late last year.

Key Points

Presidents Club says it will stop running fundraisers and will close

[24 January 2018 17:19 · Kristin Hugo]

The Presidents Club Charitable Trust says its remaining funds will be donated to children's charities and it will then close. Full story: