Boris Johnson's government rocked by new sex scandal
Sex scandals are piling up within Boris Johnson's party.
Boris Johnson faces a new sex scandal within his party on Friday. One of his government officials resigned after being accused of sexually touching two men.
It's a tough comeback for the Conservative prime minister, having just returned from a week abroad to attend three international summits.
After the increasing social conflicts due to soaring prices and after the partygate controversy, he must manage a new business within his government.
In a resignation letter dated Thursday, Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher, who is responsible for parliamentary discipline for Tory MPs, admits he drank way too much and apologizes for shaming [him] and other people.
According to several British media, the 52-year-old elected official touched two men, including an MP, on Wednesday evening in front of witnesses at a private London club, the Carlton Club, reports Sky News. These actions have led to complaints to the party.
Sex stories in the ruling government are piling up:
- an MP resigned in April for watching pornography in the House on his cell phone;
- an unnamed MP suspected of rape was arrested and released on bail in mid-May;
- and a former MP was sentenced in May to 18 months jail for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy.
The recent departure of two deputies had provoked partial legislative elections and heavy defeats for the Conservatives, followed by the departure of party chairman Oliver Dowden.
While he has resigned from office, Mr Pincher remains an MP.
The Prime Minister has accepted the resignation and believes it was the right thing to do [ …]. He obviously finds this kind of behavior unacceptable and encourages those who wish to complain to do so, his spokesperson said.
But, in the face of calls for the MP to be expelled from the party and for an internal inquiry to be held, pressure is mounting on Mr Johnson to take tougher action .
There is no way the Tories are ignoring a possible sexual assault, tweeted Angela Rayner, number two in the main opposition Labor Party.
Boris Johnson must now tell [us] how Chris Pincher can remain a Tory MP, she added, lamenting a complete downgrading of standards of public life under the prime minister.
The latter has been considerably weakened by the scandal of parties organized in Downing Street despite health restrictions during the pandemic. The case earned him a vote of confidence in his own camp, which he narrowly survived less than a month ago.
Speaking to Sky News, Welsh Minister Simon Hart said it could be counterproductive to rush an investigation, but said Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris would have questions. conversations throughout the day on Friday to determine the appropriate course of action.
“This is not the first time, I'm afraid it will may not be the last. It happens in the workplace from time to time'
— Simon Hart, Minister responsible for Wales
Appointed in February, Mr Pincher had already resigned as Whip junior in 2017, accused of making sexual advances to an Olympic athlete and a potential Conservative presidential candidate.
He had been cleared after an internal investigation. Reinstated by former Prime Minister Theresa May, he had joined the Foreign Office as Secretary of State when Mr Johnson came to power in July 2019.
Police in London say they have not received any reports of assault at the Carlton Club.
