UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is facing intense calls to suspend his former Deputy Chief Whip as a Tory MP, after allegations that he groped two men at a private members’ club.
Chris Pincher, quit his government post on Thursday, June 30, 2022, saying in a resignation letter that he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed myself and other people”. Labour’s Yvette Cooper called for his suspension whilst the “really serious” allegations are formally investigated, adding, “This is about sexual assault”.
Welsh Secretary, Simon Hart, said he cannot confirm a formal probe had been launched into the allegations, adding that the Tory Chief Whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, would be holding discussions on Friday, July 1, 2022, to “decide properly what should happen”.
A newspaper first reported Mr. Pincher’s resignation, saying he was drinking at the Carlton Club in central London when he was said to have assaulted two other male guests. Several concerned Tory MPs contacted the Conservative Whips’ office to complain about his behaviour, the paper said.
However, a response is yet to come from Mr. Pincher, the Conservative Party and the Tory whips’ office over the latest developments.
Excerpts of Pincher’s Resignation Letter
In a resignation letter on Thursday, Mr. Pincher wrote to the Prime Minister saying, “Last night I drank far too much.”
“I think the right thing to do in the circumstances is for me to resign as deputy chief whip. I owe it to you and the people I’ve caused upset to, to do this.”
Former Deputy Chief Whip, Chris Pincher
On Thursday, June 30, 2022, a Downing Street source disclosed that as things stood, Mr. Pincher would face no further action from the party and would keep the whip, allowing him to continue to sit as a Conservative MP.
A Tory MP told reporters that they raised concerns about Mr. Pincher’s behaviour to senior figures in Number 10 and the Conservative Party, including Chief Whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, Minister Nigel Adams, government whips and one of the Prime Minister’s top advisers, Ben Gascoigne.
Complaints by Heads
Speaking regarding the rising concerns, the MP said “Loads [of us] did when he was in the frame for chief whip and he never got it. There were concerns, none of us had proof we could use. He should have the whip suspended and a by-election”.
Labour and Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in a radio interview intimated that “This is just a total disgrace, the response from Boris Johnson, from the government to this. These allegations are really serious, this is about sexual assault”.
“So, the idea that the response that we’ve seen – that the prime minister thinks he’s done the decent thing by resigning, that there’s no need for an investigation – that’s a total disgrace. There has to be a full investigation now, and of course, he should have the whip suspended while that investigation takes place. We need to know the full truth about what has happened, and what the allegations are, but I think that’s the first step that needs to take place.”
Labour and Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper
She added that the Conservatives “have to show they take this sort of thing more seriously, and time and again Boris Johnson just doesn’t. That is not good enough. This is about standards in public life”.
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Wendy Chamberlain also said “Given the seriousness of these allegations, it’s difficult to see how Chris Pincher can continue as an MP. There now needs to be a full investigation and in the meantime, Chris Pincher should have the Conservative whip withdrawn.”
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