Boris Johnson’s government, already weakened by various scandals, faces a new headache this Friday due to the resignation of a member of the executive accused of gropingthe latest in a series of similar cases within the Conservative Party.
The return is brutal for the prime minister after a week abroad, where he held three international summits and distanced himself from his political difficulties while presenting himself as great support from Ukraine against Vladimir Putin.
Social conflicts are multiplying due to the rise in prices and, after the “partygate”, they must now face a new obstacle.
In a letter of resignation dated Thursday, the “whip” Chris Pincher -in charge of the parliamentary discipline of the Conservative deputies- acknowledges having “drank too much” and apologizes for “the embarrassment he went through and put other people through.”
According to various British media, the 52-year-old politician “groped” two men -including a deputy, according to SkyNews– in front of witnesses, at a private club in central London, the Carlton Club, prompting complaints to the party.
The recent series of cases of a sexual nature within the group in power for 12 years it’s embarrassing.
A deputy suspected of rape, without being named, was arrested and released on bail in mid-May. Another resigned in April for watching pornography in the House of Representatives on his mobile phone in April, and a former MP was sentenced in May to 18 months in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
In these last two cases, the deputies resignedcausing by-elections and big defeats for the Conservatives, followed by the departure of the party’s chairman, Oliver Dowden.
Degradation
“The prime minister accepted the resignation and believes it is the right thing to do,” his spokesman said. “Of course, he considers that this kind of behavior is unacceptable and encourages those who wish to file complaints to do so,” he added.
Facing calls for him to be more severe, Boris Johnson agreed with the Conservative Party’s disciplinary officer to suspend Pincher from the party “while the investigation continues,” a spokeswoman for the official said.
“It is impossible for conservatives to ignore a possible sexual assault”, tweeted Angela Rayner, the number two of the Labor Party, the main opposition group.
“Boris Johnson needs to explain how Chris Pincher can remain a Conservative MP,” he added, criticizing the “complete downgrading of the norms of public life” under the prime minister.
The latter was weakened by the Downing Street party scandal despite anticovid restrictions during the pandemic. The case earned him a vote of no confidence in his own camp, which he survived.
Appointed in February, Chris Pincher had already resigned as a “junior whip” in 2017, accused of having made sexual propositions to an olympic athlete and potential conservative candidate in the elections. He was acquitted after an internal investigation.
Reinstated by former Prime Minister Theresa Mayjoined the Foreign Office as Secretary of State when Boris Johnson came to power in July 2019.
London police reported that there were no reports of assault at the Carlton Club. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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