LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Despite sexual misconduct allegations, a top Number 10 assistant and a cabinet minister are at the centre of Boris Johnson’s administration, Sky News’ investigation has found.
Testimony of two women has been released by Sky News, giving in-depth first-person details of what they say transpired when one of them was allegedly assaulted and the other was allegedly groped by high political figures.
One of the women involved said the man, who is currently in the cabinet, was “feeding her wine” despite the fact that she was obviously intoxicated. He “didn’t leave me alone” when she asked to go to bed.
Another woman claims that she was groped by the person who now works for Number 10 and remained at his job even after complaining about his appointment.
To protect the victims, Sky News is withholding the names of the two men who are the subject of the accusations.
Following the Chris Pincher incident, when he resigned as deputy chief whip due to allegations of sexual misconduct and inquiries were made on the prime minister’s knowledge of Pincher’s behaviour, this new incident has come to light.Â
The consequences ultimately brought an end to Boris Johnson’s premiership.
A former Conservative Party parliamentary staff member who anonymously spoke to Sky News described a sexual assault she claims was committed by an MP who is currently a cabinet minister.
She said that she had reason to think that although the story had been discussed in political circles, it had not significantly hampered his ability to advance in his career.
She explained she was in her early 20s and didn’t really know how to handle it when she was sexually assaulted by someone who was now a cabinet minister.
She continued, she was very drunk. He was feeding her wine even though she had already been wasted. After some time, she thought, “You know what? Do you mind if I go to bed now?” She then went to sleep.
He certainly did not leave her alone, though. The following morning, when she awoke, she realised what had happened, she said.
She then spoke to her colleagues about it and the MP she was then employed by, who urged her to call the police. However, after speaking to the police she chose not to go further and file an official complaint to the Conservative Party.
She was too afraid to start that process and run the risk of it becoming out of hand, she said.
She thinks that there was nothing she could do without ruining her life and jeopardising her career.
“The office he will work in is full of women, so I just thought he would do it again.”
A former Conservative aide who claims she was groped by a senior Number 10 employee before his promotion to a key position in Downing Street has also been interviewed by Sky News.
Multiple complaints regarding his hiring were filed by the woman, who was employed at Number 10 at the time she claims the incident occurred, yet he is still in the position.
She had heard he was going to acquire a position in Downing Street, she said and brought it up with several people.
Nothing was done. She subsequently filed a formal complaint with the Cabinet Office. She felt compelled to do it again, in part due to the fact that the office where he would be working was full of women. She believed him to do it again.
She also alleged that when his boss, a close aide to the prime minister, learned of the accusation, he quickly disproved it on the basis that the man was “good-looking and had women throwing themselves at him.”
These remarks were confirmed by Sky News from a second person who heard them firsthand.
Some of the most dangerous people were probably the ones you’d least expect to suspect
The allegations are a part of a lengthy Sky News investigation into Westminster culture, which has interviewed employees, MPs, and others about how charges of sexual misconduct and bullying are handled there. The inquiry has involved all major parties.
Some of the people who were interviewed claimed that even while names of political personalities to avoid were frequently circulating, little action was typically taken and this tended to have a minimal effect on their career advancement.
On the other hand, many felt that filing a formal complaint against a political senior could harm their own job prospects.
