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LONDON — A former high U.Okay. official has accused Boris Johnson of not telling the reality when the prime minister mentioned he was not conscious of particular allegations in regards to the habits of an MP who he appointed to a key authorities job however later resigned following allegations he groped two males.
In a letter to the U.Okay. parliamentary commissioner for requirements, which he posted on Twitter on Tuesday morning, the previous chief diplomat Simon McDonald mentioned that in 2019, a bunch of officers had complained about Chris Pincher’s habits and an investigation had upheld the grievance. Pincher had apologized and promised to not repeat the inappropriate habits.
“Mr Johnson was briefed in particular person in regards to the initiation and end result of the investigation,” McDonald wrote.
Pincher resigned final week over claims he groped two males, prompting questions on what the prime minister knew about his previous habits earlier than he promoted him. McDonald’s letter places extra strain on Johnson, whose management has been weakened following the so-called Partygate story and solely narrowly survived a vote of confidence in his management by Tory MPs.
McDonald mentioned he was talking out due to Downing Avenue statements in latest days. A spokesman for the prime minister first claimed Johnson had not been conscious of particular allegations when appointing Pincher as deputy chief whip in February, and later clarified the prime minister knew of allegations however that they have been both resolved or didn’t progress to a proper grievance.
“The unique No. 10 line shouldn’t be true and the modification remains to be not correct,” McDonald writes.
In a later interview with the BBC, McDonald mentioned: “They should come clear. I feel that the language is ambiguous. It’s type of telling the reality and crossing your fingers on the identical time and hoping that persons are not too forensic of their subsequent questioning.”
Additionally talking to the BBC, then International Secretary Dominic Raab, mentioned every thing had been “carried out by the guide” and the 2019 allegation “didn’t journey the wire into disciplinary motion.” Raab, who’s now deputy prime minister, informed the broadcaster he didn’t suppose it was “factually correct” that the PM had been briefed.
“I’ve mentioned this with the prime minister over the past 24 hours, it’s not my understanding that he was instantly briefed.”
Labour Deputy Chief Angela Rayner mentioned: “It’s now clear that the prime minister knew in regards to the seriousness of those complaints however determined to advertise this man to a senior place in authorities anyway. He refused to behave after which lied about what he knew.”
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