Mark Clarke: Tory campaigner accused of bullying expelled for life

He has said he 'strongly' denies allegations of bullying

Mark Clarke, nicknamed the ‘Tatler Tory’, has strongly denied the allegations of bullying (Facebook)

A Conservative campaigner who has faced accusations of bullying following the suspected suicide of a young activist has been expelled from the party for life.

Mark Clarke, the so-called “Tatler Tory” at the centre of the allegations, has been under investigation by Conservative headquarters since Elliott Johnson, 21, was found dead on a railway line in Bedfordshire in September.

The local coroner revealed that Mr Johnson, who was a member of Conservative Future and had been working for the campaign group Conservative Way Forward, left behind a note which suggested he had been a victim of bullying.

Mr Clarke’s party membership was immediately suspended, and he and two others were barred from the Conservative annual conference last month. He has said he “strongly” denies allegations of bullying.

A statement from Conservative headquarters yesterday said: “In the light of information that has come to our knowledge this week, Mark Clarke’s membership of the Conservative Party has been cancelled for life.”