Sir Michael Fallon quits as Defence Secretary in Westminster scandal

‘I’ve fallen below the standards we require of the Armed Forces’

THE Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon quit last night as the Westminster sex-abuse scandal plunged the Government into crisis.

In his letter to Theresa May, the senior Tory admitted his position was untenable because his past behaviour had “fallen below the high standards” expected in the Armed Forces.

It emerged earlier this week that he had repeatedly put his hand on a journalist’s knee during a party conference dinner in 2002.

He told friends yesterday he was unable to guarantee more allegations of flirtatious behaviour against him that would today be seen as inappropriate were not about to emerge.

His departure will force Mrs May into a Cabinet reshuffle and spark speculation that other ministers could be forced to quit.

Her deputy, First Secretary Damian Green, was fighting to save his career last night after accusations of inappropriate advances to a woman 30 years his junior. The married Cabinet minister strongly denied the claim.

In a statement following his resignation, Sir Michael said: “In recent days allegations have been made about MPs’ conduct, including my own.

“Many of these have been false, but I realise that in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces which I have the privilege to represent.

“I have therefore reflected on my position in Government and I am resigning as Defence Secretary.”

His departure robbed the Government of a highly-regarded minister with a reputation for loyalty and reliability. Julia Hartley-Brewer, the journalist involved in the incident, was shocked by the announcement.

She wrote on Twitter: “Bloody hell. Sir Michael Fallon has just resigned as Defence Secretary.”

She added that “I doubt my knee was the reason” for his resignation.

His exit came after Mrs May yesterday called for an emergency crossparty summit to tackle the sex abuse storm engulfing Westminster.

She summoned other party heads for talks next week to overhaul Parliamentary disciplinary procedures.

Her offer of a united effort to address the issue came as fresh claims about the alleged behaviour of MPs and their staff continued to emerge.

She yesterday ordered an investigation into the allegation against Mr Green with aides insisting the matter would be dealt with “speedily and thoroughly”. Senior Tory Anna Soubry said Mr Green should be suspended from office during the probe.

But Tory business minister Margot James said she did not think the allegation “warrants anyone’s resignation, temporary or otherwise”.

The Cabinet Office investigation was launched after political activist and writer Kate Maltby said that Mr Green “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured in a paper wearing a corset.

Mr Green said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Ms Maltby was “untrue (and) deeply hurtful”.

Among the allegations emerging yesterday, it was claimed that a female employee of a Tory MP was sexually assaulted in a Commons office. The MP was said to have approached the woman from behind and grabbed at her crotch. In another case, an ex-Tory aide said she told police about having her drink “spiked” with a suspected date-rape drug in a Commons bar.

An officer was said to have told the woman it was “not the first time” that claims of drinks being spiked at the Commons had been made.

In the Commons yesterday, Mrs May said: “I’ve written to all party leaders inviting them to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent, independent grievance procedure for all those working in Parliament.

“We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect.”

Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn agreed to take part in the process.

Asked whether Mrs May had full confidence in Mr Green, a Downing Street source said: “I can say she has confidence in the work of the Government.”

Meanwhile Labour has launched an inquiry into claims that prominent activist Bex Bailey was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011 on the grounds it might damage her political career. Mr Corbyn vowed he would allow “no tolerance” of sexism, harassment or abuse.

Mrs May was challenged by Labour