Fallon knighthood ‘at risk’ as he denies making crude joke
young...but I am not...”. She replied to the text on the same day, saying: “Oh thank you Kelvin for such kind words. I was ill last week for a couple of days and also I had run for NUS delegate – they announced the results and I got elected with the highest number of votes!! So sorry if I couldn’t speak to you last week x.”
Meanwhile, Labour last night said it was investigating claims MP Clive Lewis groped a woman at the party’s conference in Brighton five weeks ago. A 39-year-old woman said the Norwich South MP gave her SHAMED former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon could lose his knighthood over the allegations that he made lewd remarks to colleagues.
It was reported that officials in the Cabinet Office have been discussing whether he can hang on to the honour – awarded to him by David Cameron last year – if more allegations emerge, as has been claimed.
Downing Street yesterday refused to comment.
It came as friends of Sir Michael said he “fundamentally denied” claims he had made a crude joke to Commons leader Andrea Leadsom several bottom a “big squeeze”. Mr Lewis last night denied the allegation. He said: “I wouldn’t do that to someone. It’s not what I do, it’s not my style, it’s not how I roll. I do not do that. They have made the allegation and I totally refute it. If someone hugs me, I hug them back. I would completely deny it.”
In a bid to tackle the crisis Labour announced it was employing an independent expert to tackle complaints of sexual harassment and provide victims with advice.
Mr Hopkins is the second Labour years ago. Reports have emerged that he was forced to resign after Mrs Leadsom delivered a dossier to Theresa May including sexual comments he had made to her on a Treasury trip to Washington in 2010.
When Mrs Leadsom said her hands were cold, Sir Michael is alleged to have replied: “I know a warm place to put them.”
His friends claim she made the allegations to save herself from the sack in a forthcoming reshuffle.
Downing Street sources yesterday denied Mrs Leadsom asked the Prime MP to be suspended after allegations about sexist remarks made by Sheffield MP Jared O’Mara.
The crisis deepened yesterday as the Labour Welsh Assembly Minister for Communities and Children for Carl Sargeant resigned from his ministerial job and was suspended by the party over new allegations about his personal conduct.
Meanwhile the alleged leader of a Right-wing terror group is to go on trial next year accused of encouraging the murder of a Labour MP
Christopher Lythgoe, 31, is Minister to sack Sir Michael. He quit on Wednesday after admitting his behaviour had “fallen below the high standards required” over revelations he had touched a journalist’s knee in 2002.
Mrs May has released a new code of conduct for the Tory Party in the wake of Westminster sex claims. MPs will have the whip withdrawn and ministers lose their jobs if guilty of abuse. On Monday she will confer with other party leaders on how to investigate sex allegations.
Meanwhile, First Secretary of State Damian Green faces allegations of inappropriate behaviour from a former Tory activist, Kate Maltby. charged with granting permission to a fellow member of the banned National Action to attack MP Rosie Cooper.
He is said to be a regional leader of the organisation.
A 22-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, from Lancashire is charged with preparing an act of terrorism by buying a Gladius machete to carry out the murder. He is also accused of making threats to kill a woman police officer.
Lythgoe, of Warrington, Cheshire, the 22-year-old and four other men are also charged with being members of a proscribed organisation.
They are Garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Merseyside, Matthew Hankinson, 23, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Andrew Clarke, 33, and Michael Trubini, 35, both of Warrington.
All six appeared at the Old Bailey by prison video link.
Mr Justice Haddon-Cave remanded the men in custody and fixed the trial for London’s Woolwich Crown Court for April next year.