Cabinet minister and senior No 10 aide accused of sexual misconduct
Two women make allegations of sexual assault and groping
A cabinet minister in Boris Johnson’s government and a senior Downing Street aide are facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
One former Conservative parliamentary staff member alleged sexual assault by a Tory MP who is currently a cabinet minister, according to Sky News.
Separately, another Tory staffer has claimed that she was groped by a senior aide at No 10 before he was appointed to the role in Downing Street.
The first woman told the broadcaster: “I was sexually assaulted by someone who is now a cabinet minister. I was in my early 20s and didn’t really know how to deal with it.”
The added: “I was super drunk, he is feeding me more wine and I am already quite obviously tanked, but after a while I was like ‘You know what? Would you mind if I just went to bed?’ So I went to bed, but obviously he didn’t leave me alone.”
The second woman said she was working at a Conservative event when she was groped by a senior No 10 aide, adding: “I turned around and this guy was just looking right at me.”
She complained and raised it again when the man was due to get a senior job in Downing Street, but “nothing happened”.
She also said that the aide’s boss, after hearing the allegation, dismissed it because the accused person was “good looking and had women throwing themselves at him”.
A Conservative spokesperson said the party had an “established code of conduct and complaints procedure where people can report complaints in confidence ... We take any complaint seriously.”
A government spokesperson responded to the allegations about a cabinet minister assaulting a woman. “We take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and there are robust procedures in place to raise concerns. All ministerial appointments also follow established processes.”
On allegations that a No 10 aide groped a different woman, the spokesperson said: “All prospective government employees are subject to necessary checks and vetting. We do not comment on individuals.”
In July, Mr Johnson’s demise was triggered by how he handled accusations of inappropriate behaviour by former deputy chief whip Mr Pincher.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said sexual harassment was commonplace at Westminster. “I have been repeatedly propositioned by an MP who is old enough to be my grandfather and sometimes in front of other colleagues who have either laughed it off or said nothing when he’s done it,” she told Sky News.
She added: “In order to survive in Westminster you do have to rely on that whisper network. Ultimately. It’s never going to be 100% effective. You know, some of the most dangerous people are probably the last people that you’d ever suspect.”
But Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake said sexual harassment is not “cultural” in Westminster – but if a complaint is made, it should be properly investigated.
The MP for Thirsk and Malton told Sky News: “I don’t believe it’s cultural. But clearly in a cohort of 650 people you are going to see some poor behaviour and where that exists, and a complaint is made, it should be thoroughly investigated, and most people held to account.”