Tory scandal inquiry ‘is a farce’
Party chairman will be questioned over what he knew ... by his OWN staff
THE investigation into Lord Feldman’s role in the ‘Tatler Tory’ scandal was branded a farce last night – after it emerged the inquiry will be carried out by the party’s own officials.
Central office staff, who in effect work for chairman Lord Feldman, will question him over the sex, blackmail and bullying claims against senior election aide Mark Clarke.
They will speak to up to 40 witnesses and victims – including some who had complained and say party bosses ignored them then told Clarke of their complaints.
Last night an ex-Tory MP accused the party of trying to ‘mark its own homework’ – and disputed David Cameron’s claim that there was an ‘independent inquiry under way’.
And Ray Johnson, whose son Elliott killed himself after allegedly being bullied by Clarke, warned the inquiry could be a ‘whitewash’.
The party’s attempts to investigate have already been mired in controversy over the involvement of Edward Legard – a judge and Old Etonian contemporary of the Prime Minister. Mr Legard, who attempted to stand as a Tory candidate in May’s election, was appointed last month to chair a disciplinary panel following Elliott Johnson’s suicide.
But the investigation was halted after Clarke was kicked out of the party two weeks ago.
Senior members of the party’s board – effectively its governing committee – yesterday raised concerns about the lack of distance between those investigating the affair and the party itself.
The board is expected to discuss the Clarke scandal at a meeting today. But, farcically, Lord Feldman – an official witness to the inquiry – is expected to chair the meeting.
One board member, Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne and a member of the backbench 1922 committee, last night said there were questions that must be answered at the meeting over Clarke. He told the Guardian: ‘The whole thing is concerning. There is a lot of sound and fury about this but what has got to be established is what complaints were received by central office.’
Another board member said: ‘Whatever the nature and structure of the inquiry it has to satisfy this poor boy’s parents that it’s going to be a proper investigation. We must ensure the inquiry has sufficient independence.’
But party officials are investigating themselves, with City law firm Clifford Chance carrying out a review.
The party said it will publish ‘key findings and recommendations’ but not the full inquiry. Yesterday officials said evidence-taking would not be finished until the end of the year.
Former MP Paul Goodman, editor of the influential Conservative Home website, said: ‘It is plain that the party can no longer be allowed to mark its own homework.
‘Cameron was wrong yesterday to claim that “the Conservative Party has an independent inquiry under way”. It is a matter of fact that the inquiry is an internal one conducted by party lawyers. It is being externally validated by one from Clifford Chance – but all that implies is a check on whether the processes are being correctly carried out.’
Mr Johnson demanded an independent inquiry, published in full, by people unconnected to the party. Yesterday he called on officials to ‘end the cover-up’ over his son’s death. He said it was a ‘farce’ that the party was running the inquiry, warning it could be a ‘whitewash’.
A party spokesman said it was ‘absolutely determined to establish the truth in relation to events surrounding the death of Elliott Johnson and the activities of Mark Clarke and others on Road Trip 2015’.
She said Clifford Chance would ‘review the process of interviews and information gathering undertaken to establish the facts’.
It will also look at evidence and suggest if disciplinary action is needed, she said, adding: ‘ Lord Feldman is a witness in this investigation but is not otherwise participating in the process.’
No 10 said Mr Cameron will not attend the board meeting as he is in Paris for climate change talks.
‘Party marking its own homework’