UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is under mounting pressure to reveal what he knew about allegations of inappropriate behaviour concerning Member of Parliament, Chris Pincher, when he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip.
Labour Chairwoman, Anneliese Dodds, has written to the PM seeking details on claims presented by No.10 Downing Street. The Chairwoman said, “Only Boris Johnson could have looked at this guy’s record and thought, ‘He deserves a promotion'”. Minister Therese Coffey, said the PM has not been aware of “specific” claims. Another, Will Quince, told the media he is “uncomfortable” about the allegations against Mr. Pincher, adding that they were “hugely damaging for the trust and confidence of the public in Parliament”.
After claims emerged that he groped two men, Mr. Pincher resigned as Deputy Chief Whip, whose job it is to uphold discipline among fellow Tory MPs, on Thursday, June 30, 2022, telling the Prime Minister he drunk “far too much”. The following day, he was suspended as a Conservative MP, meaning he currently sits in Parliament as an independent member.
Facing New Claims
Mr. Pincher now faces six new claims of inappropriate behaviour which he has denied. His resignation last week was the second time he stepped back from the Whips’ office, having also quit after Conservative candidate, Alex Story, accused him of making an inappropriate advance in 2017.
Labour Chairwoman, Dodds, accused the Prime Minister of being “happy to sweep sexual misconduct under the carpet in order to save his own skin”. She also questioned why the Mr. Pincher was not suspended from the Conservative Parliamentary Party until Friday, July 1, 2022, two days after the alleged incident at London’s Carlton Club.
Discussing the allegations against Mr. Pincher, Will Quince, who is the Minister for Children and Families, disclosed to the media that “Of course it’s uncomfortable. I’m hugely embarrassed as a Member of Parliament to be associated in any way by it”.
“But what’s really important is that, where people do witness or experience behaviour that is totally unacceptable and below the standards accepted of a Member of Parliament or anyone working on the Parliamentary estate, it’s reported.”
Minister for Children and Families, Will Quince
Mr. Quince also intimated that it is necessary to create an environment where victims of such behaviour “feel able to come forward, so investigations and due process can follow and the appropriate disciplinary action be taken”.
Vetting process
Work and Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Anne Coffey, said on Sunday, July 3, 2022, that “to the best of my knowledge” the Prime Minister was not aware of specific allegations about Mr. Pincher, MP for Tamworth, in Staffordshire, when appointed to the Whips’ office in February 2022.
Earlier, she told Sky News that Mr. Pincher’s appointment in February 2022 went through a vetting process “like normal”.
On the other hand, No.10 has not denied a claim by Mr. Johnson’s former Chief Aide, Dominic Cummings, that the Prime Minister referred to the former Deputy Chief Whip as “Pincher by name, pincher by nature” before appointing him.
Questioning by Party Members
Mr. Johnson is also facing questions from within his own party over his handling of the allegations.
There are suggestions that the upcoming elections for the executive of the 1922 committee backbench group of Conservative MPs could lead to a second confidence vote for the Prime Minister soon. This could result in a change to the committee’s rules, for instance, that a vote could be called if 90 Tory MPs, (representing 25% of the total), submit letters to its leadership.
The last vote in June 2022, saw Mr. Johnson win a confidence vote with 148 of his MPs voting against him. Under the current rules, another such challenge to his authority is impossible until next June (2023).
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