UK cabinet minister, Downing Street aide face sexual misconduct charge

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Sep 2022 21:38

One sexual assault claim was allegedly disregarded because the defendant "had ladies throwing themselves at him."

UK cabinet minister, Downing Street aide face sexual misconduct charge

British broadcaster Sky News revealed on Friday that a Cabinet Minister and a 10 Top Downing Street Aide were facing charges in a new sexual misconduct scandal that could be the final blow for Boris Johnson’s premiership.

Testimonies of the two victims revealed that a cabinet minister and one of the top aides to the Prime Minister’s office were involved in an assault scandal, adding that both cases were neglected by the colleagues of the victims, including the Conservative party leadership.

"I heard that he was going to get a job in Downing Street. I raised it with a number of people" one of the victims told the broadcaster on condition of anonymity.

“Nothing happened. So I then formally complained to the Cabinet Office. I just felt the responsibility to do it again, partly because the office he’s going to be working in is full of women. And I just thought he’d do it again.”

A representative for the UK government, responding to the allegations, assured the broadcaster that all the employees are checked prior to the appointment.

"All prospective government employees are subject to necessary checks and vetting. We do not comment on individuals," a spokesperson told the media.

Last July, Christopher Pincher resigned from his duties as deputy chief whip of the Conservative party after he was caught "groping two men in front of others" in a drunken state at a club in central London on Thursday evening. He was charged with sexual misconduct and resigned, though stated he would continue his activities as an ordinary lawmaker.

Despite knowing about sexual misconduct claims, outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been aware of all sexual harassment charges against Conservative MP Christopher Pincher at the time he was appointed as Deputy Chief of the Conservative Party.

Several Tory MPs had called on Johnson in February not to appoint Pincher to such a key position, wherein he would be "responsible for discipline and welfare of the party", according to two MPs and government officials. Johnson still appointed Pincher despite the warnings.

On July 7, Johnson, who succeeded Theresa May as UK Prime Minister in 2019, announced that he was stepping down both as the prime minister and head of the UK's Conservative Party.

Johnson's resignation came after a three-year-long tenure that was distinguished by the number of scandals it saw, as well as crises such as Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.

He will remain in office until a new appointment is made.